The context of Colombia and the realities that are often left outside of the conversation are an unavoidable truth and the question is no longer whether these dynamics exist, but what we are actually willing to do about them. However, awareness on its own is not enough to change anything.
This is what led us to partner with Valientes Colombia, not as a symbolic initiative, but as a deliberate decision to support an organization that has been working on the ground for years, understanding these dynamics in depth and act where it actually matters, combining research, education, and direct intervention to address an issue that cannot be solved from the outside or through isolated actions.
Through the Observatorio ESCNNA, Valientes has been documenting how exploitation linked to tourism is evolving, particularly in digital environments, while at the same time developing prevention programs in schools. They work directly with children and adolescents to help them recognize risks, understand how these dynamics operate, and build the tools to protect themselves in contexts where exposure is increasing. Their work also extends to supporting communities and responding when risks are identified, connecting awareness with real action on the ground.
To date, Valientes has reached over 15.000 children and adolescents through these prevention programs, becoming one of the key organizations in Colombia working at the intersection of tourism, digital environments, and child protection, and providing a model that combines understanding the problem with the ability to act on it in real time.
Their findings also highlight something that is even harder to measure, which is the scale of underreporting driven by fear: for every case reported, up to 10 more remain hidden in the shadows, meaning that what we see in the data is only a fraction of what is actually happening, particularly in communities where protection systems are weaker and where prevention becomes critical.
Travel is about connecting people and places, but it also comes with a responsibility to engage with the realities behind those places, even when they are complex and uncomfortable, and especially when being part of the travel ecosystem also means being part of the environments where these dynamics exist, whether we acknowledge it or not.
This is why partnerships like this matter, because they are not about introducing new narratives, but about supporting work that is already happening on the ground, strengthening initiatives that are already generating impact, and helping ensure that they can continue to grow in a way that remains aligned with the communities they serve.
It also means understanding that responsibility is shared, because travelers are not just observers, and the way we behave, what we choose to support, and what we are willing to question can have a real impact on the places we move through. Knowing that there are organizations like Valientes working on the ground makes it possible to act, to report, and to engage in a way that goes beyond intention. For us, that realization could not stay at the level of awareness, because being part of the travel ecosystem also means being part of the environments where these dynamics exist.
As a Holaflyer and Colombian, I am proud of this partnership, not only because of what it represents, but because it is already making a tangible difference on the ground, supporting education, prevention, and local action where it is most needed, and because this is what responsible travel should look like when it moves from awareness into action.
We urge you to be part of this collective protection. If you are traveling and witness any situation that doesn’t look right, please do the right thing and contact the official lines or Valientes directly. You can report anonymously through the Te Protejo App, reach out to Valientes (Instagram: @valientescol), or call 141 within Colombia. Your action is the final step in moving from awareness to real impact.
