REbuildMocoa VIDEO

Colombian students in the UK launch the official fundraiser for #REbuildMocoa

In the early morning of Saturday April 1st 2017, a landslide occurred after a night of extremely heavy rain. It swept away more than 36 neighbourhoods in the town of Mocoa in South West Colombia. At least 311 people have been killed, hundreds more are injured and over 45,000 people are directly affected. These figures are set to rise as the number of missing and injured people is yet to be fully established.

Countless families have been left homeless. The town is isolated, without electricity and water. Government in Colombia has declared an economic, social and ecological emergency.

Context

Mocoa, the capital city of Putumayo, south Colombia, has received thousands of displaced indigenous people during decades of conflict. This situation led to the settlement of unsafe houses on the bank of the rivers. As the peace process has only recently come to a successful conclusion in 2016, these populations are still living under the consequences of decades of unplanned urbanisation. Additionally, extreme weather caused by "La Niña”, a weather phenomenon that increases rainfall, is another central cause of this tragedy.

Tragically, children are the most affected group. Many of them have been left homeless and orphaned. Since many of them are from indigenous families, it will represent a major challenge to provide accurate and timely help, especially as they try to get their lives back on track after the tragedy.

Our goal

Hundreds of Colombian students in the United Kingdom, with the support of the British Charity Children Change Colombia and the Colombian Embassy in London have come together to raise funds for the country as it faces this arduous humanitarian challenge.

We are inviting you to join our cause #REbuildMocoa, so we can provide financial relief that will go beyond the immediate humanitarian help and seek for a mid-to-long term intervention.

All donations will be directed to Children Change Colombia, a UK registered charity with more than 25 years of experience working in Colombia to keep children safe and protect their rights in the long term. Children Change Colombia is currently working in Putumayo with their local partner organisation Casa Amazonia, which is based in Mocoa. Children Change Colombia will make sure that the money donated will be spent in the best way to support the ongoing relief efforts in Mocoa, and will keep us informed about how our donations are being spent.

You can donate in eight different currencies.

Help us stand up for Colombia.

Be part of #REbuildMocoa, we are an independent initiative run by students in different universities in the UK with the support of Children Change Colombia and the Colombian Embassy in London. 

Please click in the donate button in this page now.

Take a look at our VIDEO

Follow us on:

https://www.facebook.com/REbuildMocoa/
Twitter @rebuildmocoa
Instagram: rebuild.mocoa_col

Thank you for your solidarity and generosity!

Gift Aid: If you are elegible, remember that your donation is tax deductible in the UK.

For more information and if you want to know how can you help, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Point of contact:
[students4colombia@gmail.com]

To see the full (and open) list of participants, click here