In Colombia, for millions of children and adolescents, childhood unfolds amid challenges that go far beyond the typical concerns of growing up. Across large parts of the country, armed conflict, forced displacement, poverty, food insecurity, and a lack of basic infrastructure continue to shape children’s development. In many communities, something as simple as playing outside, walking to school, or spending time with friends can become a risky activity. In this context, where the right to play and recreation remains out of reach for thousands of families, a soccer field can represent far more than a place for sports. It can become a protective environment, a space for learning, and a tangible opportunity to steer children away from cycles of violence and exclusion.
With that vision, Save the Children Colombia launched “Cracks,” a nationwide fundraising campaign aimed at financing soccer schools in some of the country’s most vulnerable communities. The initiative brings together two deeply rooted elements of Colombian culture: solidarity and a passion for soccer. The goal is to channel the enthusiasm this sport inspires into real opportunities for thousands of children and adolescents to access safe spaces where they can strengthen their self-esteem, develop social skills, stay in school, and build brighter futures. For the organization, every donation represents a direct investment in protection and well-being, as well as a reminder that childhood cannot continue to wait.
Much more than a soccer school
Although the campaign centers on soccer, Save the Children’s objective extends far beyond teaching athletic technique or discovering talented players. The organization envisions each school funded through donations as a comprehensive protective environment where children can feel safe, supported, and valued. In these spaces, sports become a teaching tool to foster leadership, discipline, teamwork, gender equality, peaceful conflict resolution, and emotional well-being. In other words, the ball is only the starting point for a broader intervention designed to strengthen both individual and community capacities.
Save the Children has explained that sports build community and protective environments for children, yet in many parts of Colombia, there are still no adequate places where children can play, learn, and simply be happy. That diagnosis captures the essence of “Cracks”: creating spaces where children can fully exercise their right to play while also developing the emotional and social tools needed to navigate difficult circumstances. The organization also highlights that regular physical activity is associated with a significant reduction in mental health challenges among adolescents, a particularly relevant benefit in communities exposed to stress, violence, and uncertainty.
A response to the threats facing Colombian children
The campaign comes at a particularly difficult moment for children in Colombia. Save the Children estimates that at least 3.7 million children and adolescents live in environments shaped by armed conflict, poverty, and limited opportunities. In many regions, the presence of illegal armed groups, forced displacement, and weak institutions has drastically reduced safe spaces for recreation and development. In this context, the organization believes that offering structured opportunities for participation and support can serve as a concrete measure to prevent risks such as forced recruitment, exploitation, sexual violence, and school dropout.
As reported by El Colombiano when introducing the campaign, several figures help illustrate the scale of the crisis. The Coalition Against the Involvement of Children and Youth in the Armed Conflict in Colombia (COALICO) reported that during 2025, 292 conflict-related incidents affected at least 379,524 children and adolescents. Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned that Colombia’s humanitarian situation reached one of its most critical points in the past decade and found that in 46 percent of the forced recruitment cases it analyzed, the first contact with armed groups took place in neighborhoods and town centers, the very spaces where children should feel most protected.
Sports as a tool to rebuild social fabric
Beyond the physical and emotional benefits it offers individuals, sports have proven in many countries to be a powerful instrument of social transformation. In settings marked by violence, poverty, and fractured communities, activities such as soccer provide something that is often in short supply: clear rules, a sense of belonging, discipline, and shared goals. On the field, children learn to take turns, trust others, cope with frustration, and understand that collective effort can lead to positive outcomes. These lessons may appear simple, but they are profoundly valuable in territories where daily life is shaped by fear and uncertainty.
In Colombia, this dimension carries even greater significance. Decades of armed conflict have eroded the social fabric of countless communities, weakening trust among neighbors and limiting opportunities for children and young people to participate meaningfully in community life. In that context, sports can serve as a common language that brings together families, teachers, community leaders, and children around a positive shared experience. A well-supported soccer field does more than temporarily keep children away from dangerous environments; it can become a place where relationships are rebuilt, positive role models are strengthened, and a sense of community is restored.
That is precisely why Save the Children chose to place soccer at the center of the “Cracks” campaign. The organization understands that in a country where soccer inspires deep and widespread emotional connections, the ball can serve as a meeting point to channel solidarity and create tangible opportunities. Soccer also has a symbolic and practical advantage: it is accessible, familiar to most children, and capable of generating enthusiasm even in communities with limited resources. By drawing on this cultural connection, the campaign seeks to transform sports from a recreational activity into a concrete strategy for prevention, inclusion, and peacebuilding.
From this perspective, Save the Children’s decision is far from accidental. The organization believes that protecting children involves much more than responding to emergencies. It also means creating environments where children can discover their abilities, strengthen their self-confidence, and learn that alternatives to violence do exist. When a community provides its children with safe spaces to play and grow, it is not only promoting well-being in the present; it is laying the groundwork for a more cohesive and resilient society in the future. In a country like Colombia, where peace is also built through everyday acts, a soccer field can become one of the most powerful places to begin changing lives.
The vision of María Mercedes Liévano, Country Director of Save the Children Colombia
María Mercedes Liévano, Country Director of Save the Children Colombia, has repeatedly emphasized that childhood is facing a convergence of crises that cannot be addressed with partial solutions. In opinion pieces, interviews, and institutional messages, she has argued that Colombia must act urgently to ensure that children do not continue to bear the greatest burden of violence, hunger, inequality, and climate change. One of her most frequently cited statements captures this vision clearly: “Childhood is not tomorrow—it is today’s priority.”
Within the context of “Cracks,” Liévano has stressed that every donation is a direct investment in well-being, protection, and opportunity. She has explained that when a child gains access to a safe space to play, connect, and learn, their sense of belonging grows, their confidence is strengthened, and they find positive role models who can have a lasting influence on their future. From this perspective, the campaign is not solely about raising money; it is about mobilizing society around a fundamental idea, protecting children is a shared responsibility and an essential condition for building a more equitable and peaceful country.
A bet to close gender gaps through sports
One of the initiative’s most important components is its gender-focused approach. Save the Children warns that girls and adolescent girls face additional barriers to accessing sports and leisure activities. According to figures cited by the organization, 53% spend much of their free time doing unpaid domestic work, compared with 33% of boys. This disparity limits their opportunities for recreation, leadership, and personal development from an early age.
For that reason, the soccer schools supported by “Cracks” are specifically designed to encourage the active participation of girls and adolescents, challenging cultural barriers that have historically restricted their presence in sports. The organization believes these spaces can strengthen girls’ autonomy, broaden their aspirations, and help reduce inequalities that often begin within the home.
How to donate?
The campaign was designed to make participation simple and accessible. During broadcasts of soccer matches and World Cup games on RCN TV, a QR code will appear on screen directing viewers to Save the Children Colombia’s official donation platform. This allows people to contribute instantly from their mobile phones, transforming the excitement of the game into a direct act of solidarity.
Donations can also be made through Save the Children Colombia’s official website, where supporters can register and choose suggested contribution amounts ranging from COP 10,000 (roughly US$ 2,40) to COP 100,000 (roughly US$ 25,00), although larger donations are also accepted. For those who prefer bank transfers, the organization lists its official Bancolombia checking account No. 031-601107-82 under Fundación Save the Children Colombia, Tax ID 900.711.100-4. The organization also provides donor support channels for individuals and companies interested in joining the effort.
Save the Children has worked in Colombia for more than four decades and reported that in 2024 it reached more than 420,000 people across 17 departments, directing the majority of its resources to programs implemented directly in the field. That experience has shown the organization that relatively simple interventions, when carried out consistently and with a strong community focus, can produce profound transformations.
“Cracks” builds on that experience and projects it through the universal language of soccer. The campaign proposes that every pass, every practice session, and every goal symbolize an opportunity for children to find a safe place to grow, strengthen their self-esteem, and discover new possibilities. In a country where too many childhoods have been marked by uncertainty, the initiative serves as a reminder that protecting children is not only an act of solidarity, but also a direct investment in Colombia’s future.