The Kids Program (or Program Abrazos) started in Colombia in 2013, after Ignacio visited HD families in the rural region of San Angel, in Magdalena State. I remember meeting a kid, Olver, who had been abandoned by his parents, and was living with his grandmother in a small ranch without sanitation or electricity. Olver walked to school barefoot for an hour each way. Ignacio had brought a suitcase filled with small stuffed animals, and he will never forget Olver’s smile when he chose his toy – a little penguin.
At that moment, Ignacio knew that if we wanted to help HD youth grow with more support, we needed to start from the basics – nutrition, clothes, school supplies, ensuring a healthy upbringing and access to education. The Abrazos program began when we raised some money from friends to support 10 kids.
The program now includes 156 children under 12 years of age in Colombia and 500 in Venezuela.
One crucial aspect of our work with kids is to ensure they never lack school supplies and adequate clothes to be able to attend school. We all know education is fundamental in improving one’s chances in life. Through the program, we also provide recreational activities and psychological support for kids, who can now grow up in a community that embraces them and that understands how hard it is to grow up with the presence of Huntington’s in their families.
Below you can see our latest delivery of school supplies in Colombia. Video by Arnel Arroyo Diaz
In the words of our social agent Arnel Arroyo Diaz…
What began as a visit from the Factor-H founder to vulnerable communities on the Caribbean Coast of Colombia in 2013, where children from HD families lacked basic tools to attend school, became the driving force of an unwavering commitment.
Since then, Factor-H has assumed the role of guarantor in the promotion and restoration of the right to education for those who need it most.
Over the past ten years, Factor-H has provided support to 80 families and more than 160 children and adolescents who benefited from the Abrazos program, impacting communities in departments such as Antioquia, Atlántico, Magdalena, Cesar and La Guajira, with a special focus on the Caribbean region in Colombia. It has not been an easy road, as there are many needs, but thanks to this aid and the valuable contribution of allies and volunteers, we continue to close the gap of inequality.
More than pure assistance, this work represents a real commitment to social transformation, offering educational opportunities that allow us to change realities and build a future with more hope. Factor-H reaffirms its commitment to bringing education, dignity and opportunities to those facing Huntington’s disease, demonstrating that solidarity can make a difference in the lives of many families.
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