The Juanfe Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Colombia. The organization aims to break the cycle of poverty created by early pregnancies. The Juanfe Foundation’s work focuses on providing comprehensive education for young mothers, including training on financial literacy, mental health, parenting, and more. Since its founding in 2002, The Juanfe Foundation has provided direct assistance to 295,484 young women in the cities of Cartagena de Indias and Medellin.
Poverty and conflict have contributed to high rates of adolescent pregnancies in Colombia. 20 percent of girls under the age of 19 have been through a pregnancy, which places them at a higher risk of dropping out of school. As a result, many girls are unable to find formal employment and can only find work through informal, precarious jobs. Furthermore, many young mothers are more likely to become pregnant again shortly after their first pregnancy, creating additional economic challenges. The Juanfe Foundation aims to disrupt this cycle through its Model 360 project.
The Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund will support the Model 360 project, which empowers adolescent mothers who are facing poverty and extreme vulnerability in Cartagena, Colombia. The project relies on a socioeconomic development model that seeks to help first-time adolescent mothers regain control over their lives. Program participants will receive technical job training in high-need industries, creating opportunities for young women to find more reliable jobs in the formal employment sector. The Juanfe Foundation will provide child care services, meals, and transportation subsidies to remove common barriers that discourage participation. The Juanfe Foundation will reach 350 young mothers with this project.
Through the Model 360 project, the Juanfe Foundation hopes to support young women in regaining their confidence and give them the tools they need to define their life’s aspirations. As an end goal, the organization hopes to empower young women and help them take a first step toward economic and social mobility for themselves and their families. To learn more about the Juanfe Foundation, please visit the organization’s website and social media pages:
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