The Best Formula Loma Fresca

Neighborhood Loma Fresca:

It is located in the skirts of the Popa hill, in a marginal zone of Cartagena, its socioeconomic level corresponds to the social strata 0 and 1. The majority if the inhabitants have informal employment or practice illegal activities.  
Historically this neighborhood has been recognized in Cartagena as one of the most violent, due to great paramilitary influence and the conformation of gangs that result in circumstances such as drug addiction and insecurity, impeding the development of the children in an atmosphere of healthy coexistence.  
The neighborhood is made up of 9 streets, 3424 inhabitants that live in 624 houses, which indicates that the average of inhabitants per house is of 5 people; the number if children in the neighborhood ascends to 1635, equivalent to 47.7% of the population. *Census carried out by Formula Sonrisas Foundation, 2006.

Description of the Project The Best Formula Loma Fresca

This project was created in August 2004 and is currently the result of the joint work of Formula Sonrisas Foundation and The Children International (Fundación Amigos de los Niños) in the Loma Fresca neighborhood and other three adjacent neighborhoods.  
We have accomplished promoting social development in the neighborhood, generating positive changes when it comes to lifestyle and decreasing conflict through the healthy use of free time in Educational, Athletic, and Recreational activities. These activities take place in a setting that counts with a multi-sport court, bleachers for the assistants, and the necessary equipment for the development of the different sports and activities programmed by the teachers hired by the Foundation, who are permanently in the project.

Strategic Alliances:

Children International  (Fundación Amigos de los niños) and the Mayor’s Office of Cartagena.

Work Areas in the Project:

Educational: Directed classes of Physical Education to the Institutions:

• Educational Institution Ana María Vélez de Trujillo, Loma Fresca branch.
• Educational Institution Ana María Vélez de Trujillo, Pablo VI branch.
• Educational Institution Ana María Vélez de Trujillo, República del Caribe branch.
• Educational Institution Jose de la Vega.

Athletic: Schools of Athletic Formation were created in:

• Soccer
• Kickball
• Baseball
• Tennis

Recreational: Activities that are carried out with the community:

• Tournaments in different athletic disciplines.  
• Athletic and recreational festivals
• Observation contests  
• Athletic races  

Number of benefited population:   

Data taken from the November 2008 project report.
Benefits of the program in the community

• Strengthening of the values of the beneficiaries. 
• Increase in schooling due to the interest in the Physical Education classes.
• Improvement in the relationships among the street inhabitants. 
• Employment generation.
• Decreasing violence indexes.
• Development of new life expectations for the children.
• Interest for healthy competition. 

Benefits of sports in the children

• Introduces the kid to society given that it teaches him/her to follow rules.
• Teaches him/her to overcome shyness or stop excessive impulses.
• Teaches him/her to collaborate more and be less individualistic, given that he will have to respect the rules, turns, and authority.
• Teaches him/her to have responsibilities and obligations to fulfill.
• General increase of coordinated movements.
• Increases growth. 
• Can correct possible physical defects.
• Stimulates hygiene and health.