Begun in 1978 by a small group of Colombians who were affiliated with a private organization and who were interested in children's upbringing, education, and development, the Promesa Project began by organizing discussion groups among about 20 mothers and their children between 3 and 7 years of age in four remote villages on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Presently, the project includes vocational courses for youth and adults, malaria awareness and prevention efforts, a nutrition and stimulation program for children under 6 years, a system of small-scale revolving loans to production groups, an emergency health program, program expansion to nine additional villages, and local, legally constituted Promesa associations. The project and related issues are discussed in sections focusing on the culture of poverty, rationale for intervention programs for children, an alternative view of national development that does not depend on professional control, and aspects of an innovative intervention program for children, including cost, managerial skills, nonformal education, community integration, parent participation, and early childhood care and education. (RH)