Asociación Colectivo Melao
Cali, Colombia
In 2023, SD Canada committed $2,500 to Melao.
In 2023, SD Canada allocated $2,500 to Asociación Colectivo Melao, an organization headed by a group of youth in Cali, Colombia. Specializing in helping some of the most vulnerable populations of kids in the city through recreational workshops, the team uses games and different forms of play as a means to address deeper issues affecting these children’s lives, such as displacement and economic precarity. The team prioritizes a decentralized and flexible approach that targets the specific needs of the community, using training activities to circulate and strengthen cultural heritage and identity.
Participants in 2024’s fourth workshop, “Who I Am”
The 2023 funding will be used for Melao’s project, "Back to the Game" Seedbeds, where kids meet every week to learn in safe spaces for socialization, knowledge-building and construction of traditional games and toys, along with practice in teamwork and peaceful conflict resolution. Melao’sgoal is to transfer the knowledge that arises from playful interaction and storytelling to nourish and restore the social fabric in these communities, building solidarity and supporting collective well-being.
Participants in 2024’s fifth workshop, “Representative Animal”
Participants in 2024’s third workshop, “My Emotions”