Our Work
Conviventia exists to eradicate the poverty mindset that anchors the cycle of poverty across Colombia, setting thousands of families free from its bondage.
In practice, this looks like four programs that work interdependently and incorporate sharing the Gospel and how to adopt and apply biblical values and principles:
1) Income Generation, 2) Education, 3) Family and Leadership, and 4) Humanitarian Aid.
What do we do?
We work with some of Colombia’s most vulnerable and marginalized communities to create transformational development. This means we focus on change that lasts, change that begins at the heart of an individual, ensuring development is sustainable over time; rather than only providing temporary relief. At Conviventia, this change begins with individuals and their families, driving community-wide change which then sets the fertile ground required for nation-wide transformation.
Where We Work
Where do we do it?
Our CDA-God is Love schools, PTI vocational training centres, and other main programs and projects take place in communities across Cartagena, Barranquilla, Soacha and Bogota.
To date, we’ve been blessed to hold various Humanitarian Aid missions in several communities across Colombia, focusing these previous years in the regions of La Guajira, El Chocó and Putumayo; serving Colombians facing destitute poverty, as well as the thousands of Venezuelan migrants who have fled to Colombia for refuge.
Why do we do it?
Because God has called us to be the salt and light of the earth (Matthew 5:13-16), to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and act in servitude and love.
Colombia is a country that has long been plagued by extreme inequality and violence.
The results of this are reflected in the communities we work in, which are characterized by vulnerability, internal displacement, gangs, sexual and domestic violence and exploitation, drug abuse and addiction, limited access to basic health services, and a mindset of brokenness and hopelessness.
We believe this work is our duty as Christians and want God to use us to bring His transformational love to Colombia’s darkest corners. And as our founder Lindsay Christie used to say, “we are called to demonstrate the love of God through our deeds.” The best kind of faith is faith in action!
How do we do it?
Our development strategy focuses on four program areas: Education, Family and Leadership, Income Generation, and Humanitarian Aid.
These four areas work interdependently to break the cycle of poverty and heal these communities through holistic development that brings hope, dignity and self-empowerment back to individuals and their families; resulting in community-wide sustainable transformation by using Christian values and principles to first change the perception of the self to one of worthiness.
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 NLT
You may have noticed our slogan: living and working together.
Our work is made possible through the help of our amazing partners around the globe, who support us through a variety of mission trips to Colombia, generous cash or in-kind donations and our Friends of Hope sponsorship program. And of course, our awesome, dedicated staff working in our US office in Houston, TX, and on-the-ground at our headquarters in Bogota and our projects across Colombia.
