Ven y Juega or “Come and Play” is a sports-based social cohesion programme helping diverse communities in three regions of Colombia - La Guajira on the Caribbean coast, Norte de Santander, which neighbours Venezuela, and Putumayo near the border with Ecuador.
The programme is focused on young refugees and migrants from Venezuela, internally displaced and returning Colombians, and their host communities.
For many young refugees and migrants it can take a long time for them to feel a sense of belonging in their new home. Through sport and fuelled by our Olympic values, these young people and their hosts have a chance to build bonds, learn new skills and increase resilience, which improves their mental health and well-being.
The Olympic Refuge Foundation has co-designed this programme with UNHCR Colombia and the Colombian Olympic Committee. Together we’re working with four local NGOs to:
Develop skills and improve access to sport – training coaches to run a wide variety of sporting activities safely, such as football, tennis, volleyball, ultimate frisbee and basketball, to attract as many young people as possible. We also facilitate complementary life skill workshops for young refugees.
Create connections – helping young people and their host communities build social and support networks through weekly sport sessions, like Soccer for Peace.
Ensure sustainable safe sport – making sure displaced young people have access to safe and secure sporting facilities, creating dedicated sport committees to maintain the amenities.
Listening and sharing knowledge – making sure that young refugees feel heard and respected and that local communities are trained in topics such as child protection risks and preventing trafficking.
Ven y Juega started in March 2021 and the Olympic Refuge Foundation has committed to $1.33 million in funding over a three-year period, helping nearly 6000 young people directly and nearly 18,000 people indirectly.