Events
Academic Events
DECEMBER 1ST COMM EMORATION
World AIDS Day
Since 2010, every two years, Planeta Amor, in partnership with the Colombian Association of Infectious Diseases (ACIN), has held the HIV Symposium with an emphasis on pediatrics. Simultaneously, each year, ACIN holds a Commemorative Forum for World AIDS Day. In this year, 2026, the XX Commemorative Forum will take place, making it a very special occasion, as it will also be our IX Symposium.
In these academic gatherings, we continue to create spaces for the discussion of HIV in general, and perinatal and pediatric HIV in particular. Knowledge is shared with experts, and information is provided regarding scientific advancements related to the epidemic, health policies, protocols, and their impact.
Health and social science professionals from various specialties have participated in these events, including infectious disease specialists, psychologists, social workers, nutritionists, nurses, and health educators. Various national entities such as the Ministry of Health and the Bogotá Department of Health have also taken part, alongside international organizations such as UNAIDS, UNICEF, and UNHCR, among others.
Likewise, private companies involved in healthcare participate as sponsors.
These experiences have enriched and strengthened interdisciplinary work with multiple allied organizations that advocate for children and HIV, as is the case for Planeta Amor.
Awards and Recognitions
“Good Practices and Successful Experiences in Oversight and Community Participation in HIV/AIDS or TB-HIV IN COLOMBIA”
PLANETA AMOR WON SECOND PLACE
CONTEST PARTICIPATION
As part of a strategy developed by the Financial Fund for Development Projects (FONADE) in agreement with the Global Fund for HIV prevention and treatment in Colombia, the contest for “Good Practices and Successful Experiences in Oversight and Community Participation in Colombia” was held. The invitation was extended to community organizations demonstrating exceptional and exemplary work in the fight against HIV and Tuberculosis. The categories and evaluation criteria for applications were: Creativity, Innovation, Coordination with key stakeholders, Sustainability, and the Impact of the developed initiative.
In the final module, “My Life Project,” they generated proposals for small projects, of which Planeta Amor funded the development of 9 initiatives across different regions of Colombia.
“Red Escala la Vida” was developed between 2014 and 2016 in collaboration with 16 NGOs from various regions of the country. It involved the participation of 193 youth, directly impacting 84 adolescent women and 70 adolescent men, 21 adult women, and 18 adult men. Indirectly, it impacted 690 girls, 417 boys, 675 women, and 663 men.
Planeta Amor participated in this contest with the project “Red Escala la Vida” (Scale Life Network), a pedagogical digital initiative designed for the participation of adolescents and youth living with or affected by HIV in Colombia. Through learning on the platform and its various modules, they participated, worked in peer networks, and trained as empowered multiplier leaders capable of advocating for their rights. This helps reduce the stigma and discrimination they face for being affected by the virus.
This project was developed with the support of Adoptionscentrum, a Swedish civil society organization.
31 proposals were evaluated by committee members (a representative from the Financial Fund for Development Projects – FONADE, a delegate from the Country Coordinating Mechanism – CCM Colombia, a representative from the Pan American Health Organization PAHO/WHO Colombia, a representative from Partners In Health Peru, and a representative from the Social Footprint section of El Tiempo newspaper).
Planeta Amor is incredibly proud of this recognition. Achievements like this motivate us to continue working toward HIV promotion and prevention among children and youth in Colombia.
Social Value Award:
CEPSA 2020
The CEPSA Foundation (Compañía Española de Petróleos S.A.) awarded us the 2020 Social Value Award, an initiative that supported 20 families through the project “Proper Nutrition for Pregnant Women and their Children Living with HIV”.
Through this project, families were positively impacted across various areas regarding proper and adequate nutrition:
Organic Urban
Farms
Theoretical and practical workshops were held on what an organic urban farm is, how to plant, how to produce organic compost, how to recycle, and understanding the related processes. 20 urban farms were implemented, one in each of the participating families’ homes. As a result, each family began learning how to grow their own food. Recycling was promoted as a fundamental factor to foster environmental care and a love for nature and their surroundings.
Training
Additionally, 20 families received theoretical and practical training on how to maintain proper nutrition at a low cost. Topics included basic foods, their properties, preparation, proper cooking techniques, storage, and refrigeration.
Food Assistance – Groceries
Finally, grocery packages were delivered monthly to the 20 families throughout the 12 months of 2021 covered by the award. With the harvest obtained from each planting and the provided groceries, proper nutrition was guaranteed for them for a minimum of 2 years.
Prevention and
Awareness Talks
As part of the Foundation’s Mission and our commitment to Social Responsibility, we engage with the community, the business sector, and educational institutions in and around Bogotá. We host discussions covering what HIV and AIDS are, prevention methods, risk factors for mother-to-child transmission, and the rights of both children and their mothers.
These discussions highlight the importance of raising awareness among the general public, aiming to reduce new cases of the virus and alleviate the stigma caused by a lack of information or misinformation.
