La Playa is located outside of Barranquilla, a city of two million in the north of Colombia.
Colombia (MNN) ― 400 children in La Playa, Colombia are receiving a Christian education through child sponsorship from La Rosa de Saron, or The Rose of Sharon school.
In addition to a quality, government-approved education, the students also receive school uniforms and one hot meal a day. In addition, the school staff have the opportunity to share the Gospel with the students and their families.
Since Colombia does not offer free public education, the students at La Rosa de Saron would not be able to receive an education from any other place.
Over 2000 families live in squalor in La Playa, a community outside the city of Barranquilla. The community suffers from 80 percent unemployment, and single mothers lead the majority of the families.
1200 more children in La Playa do not have access to education. Guerilla groups and criminal gangs frequently target children who do not attend school. Martha Villamizar de Palacio, Executive Director of I.N. Network Colombia and founder of La Rosa de Saron, hopes to expand its student body from 400 to 650.
She also hopes to provide a base salary for the teaching staff. The teaching staff currently receive no salaries. All of them are Christians, and they volunteer not only to provide an education but to raise up strong leaders for the kingdom of God. 80 people worship at a church on the school property, which is pastored by de Palacio's husband in conjunction with another pastor.
Almost half of the Colombian population lives in poverty, and armed conflict has displaced two million people. Violence, often tied to drug cartels, is common.
Due to economic hard times, many of I.N. Network's child sponsors have had to discontinue their sponsorships. Many children need new sponsors. Click here if you can help transform a community by sponsoring a child for just $32 a month.
