LACT Partners
War Child
About the partner
Who they are
War Child works to protect, educate and stand up for the rights of children living through conflict, combining evidence-based approaches with locally led action to support long-term recovery and resilience.
Overview of our partnership
Our partnership
The LACT Programme began partnering with War Child in 2025 to support children and families affected by conflict in Colombia, building on War Child’s long-standing experience in the country and its commitment to locally led, evidence-based programming.
This collaboration focuses on addressing the often invisible impacts of conflict, particularly on children’s mental health, wellbeing and sense of safety. Working closely with communities, local organisations and public institutions, the partnership brings together technical expertise, cultural approaches and local leadership to strengthen both immediate support and longer-term systems.
We are proud to support a partnership that places communities at the centre, combines global evidence with local knowledge, and contributes to rebuilding trust, resilience and social cohesion in some of the most challenging contexts.
Active projects
What we are working on together
Resilient Futures
Artistic Interventions and Psychosocial Healing for Children Affected by Conflict in Mocoa, Putumayo
This programme responds to the growing impact of armed conflict in Putumayo, where children and families face displacement, violence and limited access to mental health support. It works with children, adolescents, caregivers and local actors to strengthen wellbeing, social cohesion and community resilience.
At the heart of the initiative is a holistic approach that combines three complementary elements. First, youth-led creative labs use music, dance and artistic expression to help children process experiences, build confidence and reconnect with their cultural identity. These spaces provide safe environments where young people can express themselves, develop coping strategies and strengthen social bonds.
Second, the programme delivers structured mental health and psychosocial support through evidence-based methodologies such as EASE and BeThere. These interventions support adolescents and caregivers to manage stress, strengthen emotional wellbeing and improve family relationships, contributing to safer and more supportive home environments.
Third, the programme works at systems level to strengthen coordination between communities, local organisations and public institutions. Through multi-stakeholder dialogue and capacity building, it helps improve access to services, reduce stigma around mental health and build more responsive protection systems.
Together, these approaches support children and families not only to cope with the effects of conflict, but to rebuild connections, strengthen resilience and shape safer futures within their communities.
Local partners
Local partners leading the work on the ground
Fundación Makikuna (Colombia)
Makikuna works with displaced and vulnerable communities to improve quality of life through inclusive and sustainable approaches. With a strong commitment to rights and equity, the organisation supports social transformation by responding to the diverse needs of communities without distinction of age, gender or background.
Latest from the blog
LACT Stories
Desde el blog
Notas LACT
Partner Stories
Seeing Through Their Eyes: Youth Voices, Light, and Lived Experience in Bogotá
Exhibition by members of the Lumos Colombia Youth Advisory Board, a group of children and young people currently living within institutional care.
Partner Stories
Building Safer, Stronger Communities in Pifo
In the foothills east of Quito, the community of Pifo is quietly transforming how it protects its children.
Partner Stories
Building Brighter Futures for People and Nature Across the Andes
Across the Andean region of Latin America, local organisations are showing that the most powerful transformations begin within communities themselves.