We Promote Change in Adverse Environments
122.1 million
people worldwide are forcibly displaced
+ 473 million
children live in countries affected by war or violent conflict
1 in every 7 people
lives with a mental health disorder
We are a community psychosocial support program that promotes mental health and early childhood development. We aim to disrupt the intergenerational transmission of poverty and trauma resulting from armed conflict, displacement, forced migration, and other adversities.
Get to Know UsOur Brief (Coming Soon)
By promoting mental health and nurturing relationships in families exposed to adversities, we build a protective shield and contribute to the well-being of this and future generations.
Why?
The first five years of life are crucial for overall development. Exposure to adverse events, combined with a lack of nurturing relationships, produces toxic stress that affects children’s mental health, brain architecture, cognitive skills, and socio-emotional development — creating a cycle that perpetuates poverty and inequality.
Why?
The first five years of life are crucial for overall development. Exposure to adverse events, combined with a lack of nurturing relationships, produces toxic stress that affects children’s mental health, brain architecture, cognitive skills, and socio-emotional development — creating a cycle that perpetuates poverty and inequality.
How?
We implement a community-based, group psychosocial model that promotes the mental health of parents and primary caregivers of children ages 0–5. Our approach fosters secure attachment and strengthens caregiving to create a protective shield for early childhood.
How?
We implement a community-based, group psychosocial model that promotes the mental health of parents and primary caregivers of children ages 0–5. Our approach fosters secure attachment and strengthens caregiving to create a protective shield for early childhood.
For Whom?
Our program is designed for families with children ages 0–5 affected by armed conflict, displacement, forced migration, and other adversities.
For Whom?
Our program is designed for families with children ages 0–5 affected by armed conflict, displacement, forced migration, and other adversities.
I learned to apologize to my children — I never realized they felt the weight of what I carried. I learned to apologize because they are not to blame for any of it. I learned to think before I act, to consider my steps carefully. They are my mirror, and if I want better for my children, I have to start with myself.
Participant from Bogotá, 2015
The people behind Semillas de Apego: who they are and why it matters
Our evidence-based program has been shown across multiple stages to be relevant, acceptable, and impactful — with measurable results in mental health and early childhood development, and strong potential for scale. We currently operate in seven departments across Colombia and continue to expand.
Learn about our stages9,470
mothers, fathers, and primary caregivers have participated in the program
11,835
infants supported through their caregivers
54
community facilitators, 7 supervisors, and 7 territorial managers trained and empowered
-46%
lower likelihood of critical anxiety symptoms
-26%
lower likelihood of critical depression symptoms
-68%
lower likelihood of critical levels in early childhood socioemotional development
Nariño
Year of initiation: 2018
2223 participants
2722 children (0 – 5)
11 community facilitators
1 regional manager
1 supervisor
Ver másValle del Cauca
Year of initiation: 2022
1403 participants
1721 children (0 – 5)
11 community facilitators
1 regional manager
1 supervisor
Ver másAtlántico
Year of initiation: 2022
2044 participants
2720 children (0 – 5)
11 community facilitators
1 regional manager
1 supervisor
Córdoba
Year of initiation: 2023
903 participants
1100 children (0 – 5)
7 community facilitators
1 regional manager
1 supervisor
Ver másBogotá
Year of initiation: 2015 and 2023
1312 participants
1659 children (0 – 5)
11 community facilitators
1 regional manager
1 supervisor
Ver másAntioquia
Year of initiation: 2024
784 participants
959 children (0 – 5)
8 community facilitators
1 regional manager
1 supervisor
Norte de Santander
Year of initiation: 2024
801 participants
954 children (0 – 5)
8 community facilitators
1 regional manager
1 supervisor
Fuente externa
Noviembre 2025
Who Cares for the Caregivers? An Event on the Well-being and Mental Health of Parents and Caregivers
This event was a gathering designed to explore, through dialogue and reflection, a question as profound as it is necessary: who cares for the caregivers? Semillas de Apego brought together guests from the country's most important care systems to discuss the achievements and ongoing challenges around the mental health and well-being of caregivers.
Fuente externa
Octubre 2025
Breaking the Cycle: Sowing Change in the Face of Adversity
This documentary tells the story of Andrés Moya, a Colombian economist who chose to bridge academic research with mental health and early childhood development. Through intimate testimonies and scientific findings, it reveals how mental health is deeply intertwined with poverty and the futures of children in their first 1,000 days of life. Andrés's own life serves as a mirror: his personal history shaped his research and led him to reimagine his role as an academic, a son, and a father.
Fuente externa
Agosto 2025
Somos Crianza Recognizes Semillas de Apego as a "Significant Experience
Semillas de Apego has been recognized by Somos Crianza as a Significant Experience for Early Childhood in the region, in the category "Health and Nutrition." According to the Evaluation Committee, the program stands out as an evidence-based experience that clearly articulates its approaches and actions, and demonstrates measurable results through a mental health impact evaluation.
Fuente externa
Febrero 2025
Protecting the Future of Early Childhood: The Story of Semillas de Apego
Semillas de Apego is featured in the Good Practices Guide for the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Children on the Move in the Americas, which presents eleven initiatives for the protection and integral development of migrant children across the Americas.
Fuente externa
Enero 2025
Sanar el pasado para proteger el futuro
Imagina que eres madre de niños pequeños y que ha sido desplazada de tu hogar debido a un conflicto violento. O que todavía estás en casa, pero temes que tú y tu familia puedan ser víctimas de grupos armados en cualquier momento.
Fuente externa
Noviembre 2024
Semillas de Apego: piloto de integración Watch, Play, Learn en Colombia
Integración de videos de aprendizaje socioemocional Watch, Play, Learn de Sesame Workshop en el programa psicosocial comunitario de Semillas de Apego para cuidadores de niños pequeños en comunidades afectadas por conflictos, desplazamiento forzado y migración.
Fuente externa
Septiembre 2024
Mención de honor solidaridad del Premio Alejandro Ángel Escobar
¿Es posible proteger a niñas y niños que nacen y crecen en medio del conflicto, la migración o el desplazamiento? Semillas de Apego ha enfrentado este desafío desde 2014.
Fuente externa
Diciembre 2023
Protección de la primera infancia afectada por la violencia
Semillas de Apego se une a Sesame Workshop (Plaza Sésamo), para impactar el bienestar de madres, padres y cuidadores, y el desarrollo de la primera infancia en entornos afectados por el conflicto, el desplazamiento forzado y la migración.
Fuente externa
Julio 2022
Sesame Workshop destaca a Semillas de Apego
Semillas de Apego ha sido destacado por Sesame Workshop en una publicación sobre desarrollo de la primera infancia en contextos de emergencia.
Fuente externa
Agosto 2023
Reconocimiento HundrED
HundrED destaca a Semillas de Apego como una apuesta por la primera infancia innovadora.
Fuente externa
Agosto 2023
Semillas de Apego en la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas
Andrés Moya, director y fundador de Semillas de Apego, participó en la asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas en Nueva York.
Fuente externa
Diciembre 2021
Por su impacto, Semillas de Apego gana el premio "Dejar Huella"
Recibimos el reconocimiento "Dejar Huella" de la Universidad de Los Andes en la categoría "proyectos de impacto".
Fuente externa
Enero 2024
“Sin una paz sostenida habrá más niños con problemas de salud mental”
Una entrevista de La Silla Vacía a Andrés Moya, director de Semillas de Apego.
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Interested in working with us? Check out our open positions — we'd love to hear from you.
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