Humanitarian Aid in Colombia
Partnering with Chiquitines for More than 30 Years
Children come into orphanage care in Colombia because of extreme poverty, abuse and neglect. Wide Horizons For Children (WHFC) has been working with Chiquitines, our adoption partner in Colombia, for more than 30 years. Located in Cali, Chiquitines is a loving home for orphaned and abandoned children, providing protection, counseling and preschool and elementary education services. Medical care and counseling are also made available to children and mothers during pregnancy and after birth.
At Chiquitines, children attending preschool through fifth grade are educated according to the Waldorf Model. Under this approach, athletic, instructional and cultural activities are used to stimulate physical, intellectual and emotional development.
Approximately 75 children ages 0–11 benefit from Chiquitines’ holistic program. About 60 percent fall under the family protection program, an 8-12-month intervention process that includes birth parent counseling. Once children are reunited with their families, staff members provide extensive follow-up for 6 months.
Chiquitines depends upon our continued financial support to carry out its mission. Donate online now or contact us at 781.894.5330 to learn more about how you can help transform lives in Colombia.
Finding Homes for Older Children through Kidsave
The Kidsave Summer Miracles Program provides older children with an opportunity to find forever families. WHFC has helped place more than 20 children through this program.
Prospective adoptive parents can host a child for the summer or meet children available for adoption by attending weekly events sponsored by Kidsave. Most families have considered adoption before making the decision to host or meet a child. Some families host children simply to help them find a family. Children return to Colombia after the summer. Interested parties can submit a letter of intent to adopt and simultaneously work with a social worker to begin the home study process.
Past Projects
Casa Maria Vaccinations – Government funding to orphanages in Colombia is very limited. WHFC provided a grant to Fundación Casa de Maria y el Niño of Medellin to cover vaccinations for 68 orphaned children and their caretakers. Without our support, Casa Maria would not have been able to cover crucial immunizations for Hepatitis A and B, jeopardizing the health and welfare of its children.
“Sister Parish Project” – The Immaculate Conception Parish, situated in an affluent section of Bogota, decided to “adopt” St. John Neumann Parish, located in a socially and economically depressed part of the city, to help support families and improve their quality of life.
The “Sister Parish Project” began as an after-school nutrition program for 45 children who were given a safe place to stay during the day, nutritious meals, help with school work and recreational activities. The project soon expanded to include 100 children. WHFC provided a grant to help remodel the kitchen and purchase furniture and industrial equipment.
