Child sponsorship impacts not only the child, but the whole family. One aspect of the program includes schooling for parents.

Bogotá – My name is Marcela and my son, Daniel, attends the CDA School. He is in preschool. Before attending the School for Parents, I did not know how to be patient and handle difficult situations at home. Nowadays, I am able to look for strategies that allow me to solve any conflict that I may face with my family. I have learned that problems can be solved if I have a truthful desire to solve them and if I pray to God. I have been attending the School for Parents for a year and I can say that I liked it very much from the moment I attended the first workshop. The information they provide us with is very useful and the directors teach us strategies that can be applied to our daily life and how to apply those strategies by showing us examples of actual situations. I am very surprised because I did not think we could have an opportunity like this to learn and be able to express our ideas and our daily experiences. Today, I thank God for CDA and for the positive changes we witness in our families every day.


Sadly, child abuse is all too common in Colombia. When abused children are discovered, they are placed in special home for a total of 60 girls, 30 of whom are funded by Word & Deed North America. Needed in 2009: $123,500 CDN / $103,000 US The Girls’ Home, Johanna , 14 years old.
My life was very normal until my father and my mother died from an incurable disease called HIV AIDS. After my parents died, one of my sisters continued supporting me financially even though in order to do so, she had to face many economic difficulties. We were living in the neighborhood Cazuca in Soacha. At the beginning, I was happy to live with her, but after a while, she started insulting and abusing me and my brother physically and psychologically. For that reason, my little brother decided to escape from home and he started living with my other sister. Even though I miss my little brother very much, I am very happy about him escaping from home. One day, I went to visit my other sister and I told her what happened; she immediately contacted CDA to get help. Since I arrived at the Home, I feel happy and peaceful. I believe that God is always present in our lives, even when we have problems and difficulties. Thanks to Him, four years ago I was offered the opportunity to live in the Girl’s Home. Since then, I have been able to experience how my life has improved in all aspects. Thanks to my Heavenly Father, I have everything I need and I do not lack anything.
Not very long ago, my Home mates and I attended an activity carried out at the church. Through this activity, I was able to forgive many people that hurt me and that I even hated in the past. Now that I have forgiven these people, I feel like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Now, I feel the love of God in me and I feel that the problems in life are not as big as I always thought. I pray everyday for my family’s wellbeing and for them to come closer to God. I thank Him for CDA because I can really witness His love in everything they do in order to help vulnerable people and especially in order to help me in many ways, from providing me with food, to providing me with health and psychological assistance, among other ways.
Now, I want to be able to help my family and friends in everything I can. After I graduate from secondary school, I want to study psychology in order to help people in need. I want me and my brother to have a successful life.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to express my gratitude this way!


The objective of the scholarship program is to provide post-secondary education to the best students who graduate from CDA schools. Given that many of the sponsor children from Word & Deed North America are just now beginning to graduate, we expect the needs for this fund to grow dramatically. There are currently 5 young people being funded. Needed: $4,000 CDN / $3,300 US

Ingrid, 19 years old, Business Administration
The current situation of my family is a bit difficult. My father has suffered heart problems for the last three years and has not been able to work. My mother is also facing health issues and undergoing several exams, but together, myself and her, are working to cover our needs. To top this off, my oldest brother disappeared three months ago and we have no news from him or have any idea of what could have happened. All this has us feeling sad.
My first contact with CDA was back in 1995, when I entered first grade. I remember I always dreamt of becoming a doctor or a nurse, but then in high school I realized I got very nervous when I saw a wound or blood and that made me change my mind. This is why upon graduating I decided to study Business Administration. I am now entering fifth semester and I study in the mornings and in the afternoon work in marketing.
I am deeply grateful to CDA for selecting me for the scholarship program. If it had not been for the help received I would have never achieved my dreams. CDA is an organization that lives and demonstrates the love of God, caring for the development of each of us students and our families. As a student at University I see the difference between the way CDA relates to the students and how things are outside of that environment. I miss the daily devotions at the school, but have learnt to have my own devotions. At University no one even mentions God and they don’t really care about the people as such. All they care about is that you pay and what grades you get. At CDA things are different, because they take into account each person's situation and need. I believe that this country has faced and faces so much hardship, because of the lack of opportunities and care. I wish there were more programs geared toward truly caring for the people and providing them opportunities to develop and do well. I hope to become a good business administrator, maybe establish my own business and generate employment for others, helping also my family.


Helping Hands is a project running in both Bogotá and Cartagena which assists 40 families, who have hit “rock bottom”, for a period of three months by providing them with food and other staples together with regular Bible based seminars. Needed: $40,500 CDN / $34,000 US for Cartagena and Bogotá.

Teodosia, Cartagena

Knowing and being linked to the CDA projects has brought me many blessings and benefits. The sewing and dressmaking training at the VTC enabled me to earn income as a result of what I learned and in so doing, sustain my family now that I have the responsibility to economically provide for my family. There are occasions in which I fail, but here I receive encouraging words from my teachers and the CDA staff in general. Belonging to the Helping Hands program was very beneficial for me, not only for the groceries, but for the training they gave us, impressing on our minds that the material things pass away, but the spiritual ones remain with us forever.
The support they have brought me has been marvelous and has helped in my spiritual and personal growth. Everything learned during this time has enriched me as I have put it into practice, it has all been a gain for my life and I will never tire of giving thanks to God for the person that developed this great project and for the people who work here.




Word & Deed has supported John Calvin School in Barranquilla, Colombia for three years. There are over 200 students. The school is supported through sponsorships with an additional $104,000 CDN / $86,500 for operational costs. A new school and a medical clinic are being planned to replace the current run-down facilities.

John Calvin Christian School: Student’s mother
My name is Viviana, I am 26 years old, and I have two children; Dayana and John . John has recently started attending the John Calvin School.
Before my children started attending the institution, I did not value the blessings that God provided me with, because I did not understand that when something good happens to you, it is because God made it possible. In this area of Barranquilla, it is always difficult to find a job and being able to support your family and bring food to the table every day requires a great effort. Now, thanks to CDA, my son John receives nutritional meals and most of all, receives a quality education. At the same time, the Parents School has helped me a lot; I had never known about a school where they also trained the children’s parents. I am very grateful to CDA for training me as well.
So far, I find the John Calvin School to be very organized and the students learn to be disciplined. What I like the most about the education that the school provides is that the children are taught about God’s Word. I am very grateful to CDA for all the benefits they provide us with; my children can enjoy a very nutritional meal every day and they receive a great education.
On behalf of my family, I want to thank CDA for helping the families from the neighborhood Las Américas and especially, for providing our children with a great education at such low costs for the parents.
I hope to continue being linked to this program until my children finish their secondary education. I wish, in the future, that you can offer technical education so that the children can continue their education and suceed in life.
God bless you, keep up the good work and I hope you continue blessing us in the future.