The Best Formula Villa Lorena

Neighborhood: Villa Lorena

Villa Lorena is a neighborhood that is located at the bottom of the mountain of the plains in the Playa Rica sector, adjacent to the Loma Linda, Loma Azul and Playa Rica neighborhoods.
In the beginning Villa Lorena was a neighborhood of invasion, inhabited by people displaced by violence. Thanks to the efforts of the community the plots of land have been legalized and access to public services has been achieved. Because of the socioeconomic condition of its inhabitants, the neighborhood presents high indexes of violence and low credibility before external institutions that offer their help or services, because they have been victims of political promises that were never fulfilled and few solutions to their problems.

Description of the Project Villa Lorena

It was initiated in February 2005; this project is the product of the joint work of Formula Sonrisas Foundation and the Educational Institution Playa Rica, branches of Playa Rica and Villa Lorena. 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 is adequate for the program; it is located in the Educational Institution Playa Rica, Villa Lorena branch. It counts with a multi-sport court, bleachers for the assistants, and the necessary equipment for the development of the different sports and the programmed activities, which are directed by the two teachers hired by the Foundation, who are permanently in the project.

Strategic Alliances:

Communal Action (Acción Comunal) of the Villa Lorena neighborhood, Mayor’s Office of Villavicencio y and the Educational Institution Playa Rica

Work Areas in the Project: Educational: Directed classes of Physical Education to the Institutions:

• Educational Institution Playa Rica, Villa Lorena branch.
• Educational Institution Playa Rica, Playa Rica branch.
• Hogares de Madres Comunitarias del Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar. (ICBF)
• Colegio Básico Buenos Aires, León XIII branch.

Athletic: Schools of Athletic Formation were created in:

• Futsal
• Basketball
• Gymnastics

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 January 2009 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