Children of the Andes (COTA) is a UK registered charity that provides support to Colombia’s most vulnerable children by working in partnership with local NGOs.
COTA was established in 1991 to support children living on the streets and in the sewers of Bogotá, following a documentary by the British film-maker Desmond Wilcox.

Our aim is to provide relief from the effects of violence and poverty and to promote longer-term development through a range of education, health, protection, and peace-building initiatives.

We work to defend the rights of the children who need us most: street children, working children, child victims of violence and children with healthcare needs. Wherever possible, we also provide support to the children’s families, in order to understand and tackle the root causes of problems.