An introduction to the activities of Humanitude Promotion Headquarters

Albeiro Mr. and the Guardian Angels
Source: Official Instagram Fundación Albeiro Vargas & Ángeles Custodios

Following our previous feature on IGM International, we will continue to report on the activities of the various organizations that have signed Humanitude Sans Frontières Charter.

For this second installment, we conducted an online interview with Mr. Albeiro Vargas (hereinafter “Albeiro”), founder of the “Fundación Albeiro Vargas & Ángeles Custodios” (hereinafter “the Foundation”), which has been providing support to the elderly in Colombia, South America, for over 40 years.

We will cover the full interview in the second part, but in this first part, we will introduce an overview of Mr. Albeiro 's activities and his journey from his childhood, which was the origin of his work, to the present day.

About Fundación Albeiro Vargas & Ángeles Custodios

Fundación Albeiro Vargas & Ángeles Custodios (Albeiro Vargas & Guardian Angels Foundation) is a Colombian nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and ensuring dignified living for elderly people in socially vulnerable environments, as well as improving their welfare. Founded by Albeiro, who began supporting elderly people without family in childhood, it has been deeply rooted in the community for over 40 years.

Through programs such as the "Guardian Angel" program, where children and young people support the elderly, we are working to provide emotional care and alleviate loneliness for the elderly, while also fostering compassion and a sense of social responsibility in children who will shape the future. Intergenerational exchange is the cornerstone of our activities, and we are promoting community building that values human connections.

Formed "Guardian Angels" at age 9. The journey of "Guardian Angels" as they continue to support lonely elderly people.

The story begins in Bucaramanga, Colombia, South America, when 6-year-old Albeiro devotedly cared for his ailing grandfather, Josefito. After his grandfather's death, 7-year-old Albeiro witnessed the presence of lonely elderly people in the town and began an activity called "Magic Coffee," where he brewed warm coffee in thermoses every morning and distributed it to people.

At the age of nine, Albeiro realized that there were limits to what he could do to help alone, so he gathered his playmates and formed a volunteer organization called "Guardian Angels." The children visited elderly people who had no family and were struggling financially, talking to them, supporting them in their daily lives, and deepening their relationships with them.

These children's dedicated activities were initially viewed with suspicion by local adults, but when the French documentary "Little Angel of Colombia," which followed their work, was broadcast worldwide, understanding and support for their activities spread greatly. Support poured in from all over the world following the broadcast, leading to the establishment of a foundation and the development of facilities for supporting the elderly.

<Unique initiatives of the foundation>

Intergenerational exchange model (Guardian Angel Program)
Children aged 9 to 16 receive training and participate in interaction and recreational activities with the elderly. This creates a reciprocal care system where children learn by learning about the life experiences and values of the elderly, and the elderly gain vitality through interaction with the children.

Their own currency, "Hormiga"
This currency is earned through light work performed within elderly care facilities operated by the foundation. It can be used to make purchases at the facility's shop, creating opportunities for seniors to feel connected to society and to experience a sense of purpose.

Sustainable business models
In Colombia, where there is a significant economic disparity among the elderly, a system has been established to use the profits from "Casa Mayor," a paid facility for the wealthy, to fund the operation of free care for elderly people who are homeless and struggling to make ends meet.

[Column] What is Bucaramanga, Colombia?

Source: OCHA Colombia – Location Map (2013) *This map was created by adding markers to a portion of the original data (CC BY 3.0)

 

Located approximately 400 km north of Bogotá, the capital of Colombia (about a 1-hour flight), at the foot of the Andes Mountains near Venezuela, it enjoys a warm climate with temperatures of around 20-30°C throughout the year.

It is a regional city with a population of approximately 620,000, and is affectionately known as a "city of parks" with abundant greenery.

It is also known as an industrial city, with the manufacture of shoes and leather goods, as well as the production of Colombian coffee and tobacco.

One of the region's most famous and unique foods is the giant queen ant called "Hormigas Culona." With its crunchy, nutty flavor, it has been a beloved part of the region's indigenous culture for centuries.

The name of this ant is also the origin of the Foundation's own currency, "Olmiga."

In the next installment [Part 2], we will bring you an interview with Mr. Albeiro.

What has been the driving force behind the foundation's continued dedication to supporting the elderly for over 40 years? And what is the "love" and "dignity" in care that the foundation cherishes? Please enjoy this interview that delves into the core of the foundation.