About us

Our Mission and Purpose:
To help feed the bodies and minds of children ages 1 to 13 years old living in marginal communities and at high risk of falling under the consumption of drugs and youth prostitution.  In addition, to support programs providing a safe and fun space for the elderly and manual trades for sexual workers to help them change their life style and create a better future for themselves and their families.

What We Do and Who We Serve:
Our program works with families living under extreme levels of poverty in the surrounding areas of the Combeima River –these areas are considered some of the poorest areas of Ibague, Colombia.  Every day our organization provides a lunch meal to over 100 children preventing them from going hungry and limiting their inability to focus and learn.  Aside from feeding their bodies, our program also works to feed their minds. There are three centers where children are given a safe place to learn and participate in educational activities.  By doing so, we hope to grow in them a passion for learning and therefore improve their quality of life and prospect of a better future. 

Where we work:
Our organization manages three children centers and provides volunteer support to a few others.  Below is a list of programs with a short description of what they do & who they serve:

·    Manos Amigas –provides educational reinforcement to children between the ages of 1-13 years with morning and afternoon sessions.  At noon, lunch is served here to over 100 kids a day.  Manos Amigas is also the home base to all participating volunteers. 

·    Huellas de Amor – Located in a rural and extremely poor area of Ibagué, Huellas de Amor provides educational reinforcement with am/pm sessions.  Each session approximately 20-25 participants making a total of 45-50 kids a day.   

·    Sueños Infantiles San Jose – is one of our newest but equally valuable centers located near the Combeima River –an area with extreme levels of poverty.  They also provide am/pm educational sessions to children and every Wednesday they give elderly a safe space to gather, socialize and participate in stimulating activities.

·    Hermanas Oblatas – program works with sexual workers providing them with lessons on manual trade such as ceramic, wood painting, sewing, etc. At the same time, their children have the opportunity to complete homework & participate in educational activities.  

·    Jardin Botanico –a conservation hub for any volunteer interested in nature and care for plants and natural forest. Now offering the opportunity to participate on the guiding of English tours to college and university student groups.

How you will help make a difference:

Due to the lack of resources, our organization is under staffed and overly extended.  With your help, we will be able to reach out to more kids and offer them the personalized attention they need. In years past, some volunteers have helped with teaching English, swimming, art or simply mentoring children 1:1.  Regardless of what your talent, your help will certainly make a difference.