Colombia: getting all children an education

Take six-year-old Cristhian, for example. He lives with his mother Marlene in Montenegro, western Colombia and was barred from one school because he was born with a left arm that ends at his elbow.

"They said they couldn't have a child like Cristhian in the class" says Marlene. "I had to stop working because my boy didn't want to go to school. He was very depressed."

But Cristhian is now in school thanks in part to a Save the Children project run with coffee producer FFI - makers of FAIR INSTANT.

Together, we're working with 18 schools in Quindio Department to ensure that all children can get a quality education - especially those who are currently excluded because of physical disability, displacement or extreme poverty.

We support the schools with free school lunches, uniforms and educational materials. And we're training teachers about how best to include children with physical disabilities in their lessons.

Marlene is clearly pleased with how the training has helped her son. She says, "The school has received Cristhian very well. He is well liked in his class and the teachers are really caring toward him. The teachers have a lot of patience with Cristhian, and I really appreciate that". 
 
"He is capable. He has to make an effort so that people don't do things for him, but he can do a lot. The teachers always send notes saying that he is very well behaved.

"Now Cristhian is in school, I hope to get back to work soon."

Save the Children works through local organisation the Luis Felipe Velez Foundation on this project.