The Girls’ Home, Tenjó (Budget: $105,000)

Camilo, Care taker and Gardener
When I arrived in Bogotá, my situation was very difficult. I was fleeing from the violence in the area of Puerto Boyaca and trying to protect my three boys. I was, what is called, a displaced person.
In 1991, I arrived at Altos de Cazuca, with the hope of finding a place to live together with my family. But things were very complicated. Neither my wife, nor I had a job or any income, so we faced many hardships having no where to live and exposing our children to many risks. After many struggles, we were able to get a job and rented a shack, which became our home. Thinking of providing education to our children was out of the question. We could barely make enough to eat; much less did we have enough to pay for a school. But one day, someone told us about a Christian School that was being run by a missionary. Then one Sunday we met the late Rev. Lindsay Christie (Missy Christie’s father) and he told us that we could send our children to study at that school. He invited us to help toward the school building by taking a brick for each child. On that year my children had the opportunity of entering the school and I am grateful to God, that today, one of them works for CDA.
In 2004, the entity was searching for a caretaker and gardener for the Children’s Home in Tenjo and my wife and I applied, since I had worked all my life in agriculture. We were approved and since then my wife and I live at the Children’s Home and work happily for the girls there, trying to take the best care possible of everything that has been given with so much love. Through CDA we came to know God and have experienced a complete change in our lives. Our commitment is to continue working toward the fulfilment of CDA´s mission with gratitude for the opportunities received.
Child Sponsorship
Lucero Alto School, Bototá, Colombia

Gladys Age: 32 years - Mother of a sponsor childFor me this school has been like a spiritual fortress in this area of town. The care and interest they have in each of our lives and families, has allowed me to overcome many situations and learn to trust in God in all circumstances. Besides, academically it is the best school. Our children develop their minds and acquire knowledge, and at the same time, are formed in values. We are Christians and as such, we are aware about the responsibility that we have in training our children in the path of God. Therefore having the support of the CDA School, is a wonderful blessing. My daughter’s name is Ma Luisa. She is only five years old, but it is so encouraging to see her develop so well at school. Last year she was the best student in her class. I wish that Leidy and Angie, my other daughters could also attend this school.
The role of the parents’ workshops has been very important, as we learn how to bring up our children properly.

School of Infant Development (Budget: $18,000)

Children entering the sponsorship program are often developmentally delayed due to malnourishment or diseases that haven’t been treated properly. The School of infant development project trains the caregivers for 300 children to properly care for them and to recognize and respond to the various diseases that affect young children in Colombia within a biblical framework. Catching problems early can make a world of difference lasting a lifetime.

Josefa.
I am 38 years old. I am married and have 4 children. I knew about CDA because my youngest daughter is studying there. I had the opportunity to attend the development classes, where I learned things that I did not know and received tools to help me with educating my children in a better way. For example, I learned that it is important to provide stimulation to the children beginning when they are still in their mother’s womb and also how everything that I do will affect their development. I know the importance of the first years of their life and how to establish a foundation for them to build on for the rest of their life. I am thankful for what I have learned in these workshops. I have had my eyes open with respect to my responsibilities but I also respect my abilities and all that I can do with my hands, even though I do not have many resources. I wish I had known this before! I am teaching my children everything that I am learning so that they can have better physical and social development and can interact appropriately without aggression.
Thanks to God and to CDA for giving me the opportunity to learn this knowledge and to share it with my family.

NOHEMI RODRIGUEZ (left in picture)
PRE-SCHOOL TEACHER CAZUCA
During 2007, I was given the privilege to participate in the School of Infant Development, with parents, pregnant mothers, single mothers and children aged 0-4 years. By interacting with them, listening to their experiences, watching them make decisions to improve the quality of life motivates one to look at ones own experiences and to spread the dream of CDA.

Some of the things that we have studied through the School are:

Physical development through gross and fine motor stimulation, understanding the importance of Play for children, development of habits of organization and hygiene, stimulation encouraging speech, how to be polite and courteous, social-emotional and spiritual development.

Some of these themes may seem trivial but for the families of Cazuca it is necessary to continually emphasize the importance of these themes for the formation of their children and families by doing repetitive actions that will be converted into habits that improve their children’s holistic development. Thereby influencing, in a safe way, good academic and social-emotional performance in all the classes; pre-school and elementary.

Each parent has committed to put into practice the themes discussed in each session.
Another goal we are striving for and one of the most important things is to see how more and more parents are interested in having a personal relationship with God and this is because they are coming to recognize the interest and love that God has in their lives and how he is wanting to help them be the best parents.

I give thanks to God for his faithfulness towards us. He is guiding our ways and giving us favour in the community.