A Place for Their Children to Grow

With the support of Holt sponsors and donors, three families in Bogotá are breaking cycles of hardship and creating brighter futures for their children.

Nestled between towering apartment buildings and local grocers is an oasis in Bogotá, Colombia.

Green grass stretches across the grounds of a children’s center. To the side, a group of children giggle and hop through an obstacle course.

A large playground in the corner hums with laughter and the creak of swings in motion.

Down a winding path, toddlers toddle toward a classroom for naps — their bellies full after an afternoon meal.

This space overflows with serenity and joy.

Thanks to Holt sponsors and donors, three families have watched their children grow and thrive here.

Breaking Generational Cycles in Bogotá

In a neighborhood in Bogotá grappling with high rates of crime, gang activity and drug trafficking, FANA’s nursery program is a sanctuary for vulnerable children and their families. FANA — or the Foundation for the Assistance of Abandoned Children — is one of Holt’s key partner organizations in Colombia.

FANA’s mission is to support families with as many resources as possible, and their mission closely aligns with Holt’s mission to prevent family separation — and help children thrive in the loving care of their families.

With support from Holt sponsors and donors, FANA offers parenting workshops that teach practical skills as well as skills tailored to the specific community of parents they serve. After decades of violence and crime in Bogotá’s communities, these issues have seeped into homes and shaped parenting practices. Family violence, neglect, addiction and poverty have cycled through generations — passed from one parent to the next.

While many parents do their best to keep their children safe, they often parent the way they were parented — without the tools or resources to provide what their children truly need.

At FANA, parents learn to break those patterns through positive discipline, conflict management and counseling — preventing domestic violence, child abuse, malnutrition and neglect.

A Nurturing Nursery Program

In addition to basic early childhood education and development, children in FANA’s nursery program also receive targeted support to help them cope with traumas they’ve experienced.

“Many children at FANA have faced trauma, instability and developmental delays that make it hard to learn and grow. FANA’s approach surrounds each child with individualized supports, such as speech and occupational therapy, academic tutoring and experiential learning, to help them overcome challenges, heal emotionally and build confidence. By supporting both children and their caregivers, we create resilient families and brighter futures,” explains Malia Robello, Holt’s senior program manager for Colombia.

Children as young as 4 months receive nutritious meals, and learn and play in a safe, nurturing environment. The program is free to vulnerable families in the community — a major benefit that allows both parents work to provide for their families.

Children receive support for their development every step of the way. Long-term support ensures that children who might otherwise remain trapped in cycles of poverty gain the tools they need to reach their fullest potential.

Thanks to the generosity of Holt sponsors and donors, families in Bogotá now have access to support they never thought possible.

Breaking Cycles of Poverty

When Victor was young, he never knew where he would sleep at night.

After his parents divorced, he bounced between relatives — an aunt, a cousin, a grandparent. As a teenager, he spent much of his time on the streets. Life was anything but stable.

Now, as a father, Victor is determined to give his son a different life.

His son, Joshua, is 3 and a half. He likes dinosaurs and playing outside.

Because of Holt sponsors and donors, Joshua has a supportive foundation early on. He’s been coming to FANA’s nursery school for a little over a year. His favorite part of the day is music class.

“FANA has given us everything we could ask for,” says Camila, Joshua’s mom. She’s currently a student taking business courses and hopes to open a salon one day.

At first, leaving his mom and coming to FANA was tough for Joshua. He was very attached to her and cried when they were separated. Because of this, his parents were searching for a place where he could learn, grow and interact with other children.

“Every morning, he wakes up at 6 A.M. and he’s ready to come to FANA — even on the weekends,” says Camila, laughing. “He loves FANA.”

As we talk, Joshua holds a fuzzy stuffed lion and gives his mom a big smile.

“We want him to have a good education, so he can have a good future and good opportunities,” Camila says, looking at her son.

A Different Future for Their Son

Thanks to generous Holt sponsors and donors, Camila and Victor have the tools to give Joshua a brighter future. Camila has found the parent workshops transformative in their household.

“I come to every single training. It’s so important to me,” Camila says. “We are raising him with communication and gentleness — without violence.”

Victor can’t attend the workshops because he works full time at a flower farm, but he and Camila are committed to learning everything they can.

“The nutrition trainings have been helpful, knowing how I can provide nutritious meals,” Camila shares. “When [Victor] gets home, I tell him what I learned, and we make a plan to practice at home.”

Many parents never have the chance to learn new parenting approaches beyond what they experienced growing up. But thanks to the support of Holt sponsors, Joshua’s parents do.

“My husband had a difficult life, and he doesn’t want our son to live that,” Camila says. “Thanks to everything I have learned here, I can take care of him in a better way.”

Empowering a Mom and Her Daughter

Just around the corner from FANA, Marisol walks her 3-year-old daughter from their small apartment to the nursery school each day.

“The nursery school has been very important for us because I’m able to go to work. This allows me to pay for our living expenses and provide everything my daughter needs,” Marisol says.

Marisol is a single mom who works full-time as a secretary. When her daughter was six months old, Marisol’s family moved away to another city — leaving her to care for her baby alone.

Thanks to paid maternity leave, Marisol could stay home with her daughter, Samantha. But soon she ran out of paid time off and needed to find childcare.

“I looked at other daycares in the area, but they were all too expensive. I couldn’t afford it and I didn’t want to have someone care for my baby at home when I couldn’t supervise. That’s a big risk,” Marisol shares. “A neighbor asked me if I had heard of FANA. When I came, my life changed completely.”

A Life-Changing Program

Through the support of Holt sponsors and donors, Samantha was able to enroll in the nursery program when she was 1 year old.

Samantha was a bright, cheerful little girl, but she didn’t speak like other children her age. At birth, she had no vital signs, and although she’s had few lasting complications as she grew older, her speech remained delayed.

But when Samantha started socializing with other children in the nursery program, it wasn’t long before she began to speak.

Now, every morning, Samantha asks her mom if she gets to go to nursery school. She loves all her teachers and has made friends at FANA.

“Now she sings and dances. She loves people and is very social,” says Marisol, squeezing Samantha’s cheek. “All of that is because of what she’s learned here.”

A New World of Parenting

Samantha isn’t the only one who’s grown through the support of Holt sponsors and donors.

“The parenting classes are very useful. They are early in the morning, at 7:00 a.m., so I can go to work afterward,” says Marisol. “I really enjoy everything. I’ve learned a lot about nutrition and how to prepare a good meal. I’ve also learned about psychology.”

She says Samantha loves eating fruits and vegetables. Before, Marisol didn’t understand the importance of a balanced diet for children. Growing up, her parents didn’t have access to resources like those FANA provides.

“I am parenting differently than how I was raised, which was harsh and strict. At FANA, I am learning how to parent with compassion and listening. This is very different than how it was when I was growing up,” Marisol says.

Your Support for a Growing Family

In an upstairs apartment, Silvia lays her baby down for a nap. Swaddled in a soft green blanket, her baby sleeps soundly on the bed. She draws the sheer curtains, casting a soft, ambient light in the room.

Her 3-year-old son, Diego, is currently playing at FANA’s nursery school, just a short walk away. Gabriel, her 5-year-old, started kindergarten this year.

The boys’ grandmothers cared for them until a couple of years ago, when they moved away for work — leaving Silvia and her husband, Sebastián, without support.

“Our support network was not as strong as it used to be,” Silvia says. She sits beside Sebastián, colorful puzzles and children’s books scattered behind them.

With only Sebastián’s income, early childhood programs were out of their budget. But Diego needed support to keep him on track with development milestones.

“Early on, Diego had trouble interacting with children his age. He isolated himself from others,” Sebastián says. “When he first came to FANA, only we could understand what he was saying when he spoke. But now, everyone can understand him.”

Thanks to the support of Holt sponsors and donors, Diego was able to attend nursery school and receive the early foundation he needed.

“Coming to FANA, every day is like a warm welcome,” Silvia says. “The teachers are wonderful.”

Strengthening Their Futures

Diego has learned a lot through FANA — and his parents have too. They’ve attended several parenting trainings, transforming how they approach raising their three boys.

“We’ve learned to help them save money,” Sebastián says, smiling. He holds up a hand-painted piggy bank.

All three children have one. Two are painted like superheroes, and one is waiting for the youngest to choose a design.

“We’ve really enjoyed all of the trainings, especially the ones about nutrition, child safety and psychology,” Sebastián says, while Silvia nods her head. “One very important thing we’ve learned is how to prevent sexual abuse. We need to teach him to be aware of his body and have boundaries for his body, for his safety.”

Because strengthening families is at the core of Holt’s work worldwide, parent trainings are a vital resource to help children thrive. Sponsorship ensures children have the support they need — in all areas of their lives.

A Word to Holt Sponsors and Donors

None of these transformations would be possible without the generosity of Holt sponsors and donors.

Diego and his whole family have been impacted by the resources they’ve found through FANA. As a growing family, their future looks bright.

“There are no words to explain this. Thank you. This is a very big work made by a lot of people,” Sebastián says. “Every time I pick up my son and see the smile on his face, I think about how each person is giving a little bit to make this possible. All we can say is thank you.”

Samantha has learned how to use her voice, and her personality has blossomed since coming to nursery school. Knowing her daughter is learning and growing at FANA, Marisol can work to earn an income and build a better future for them both.

“Thank you,” Marisol says to Holt sponsors and donors. “Because of you, I can overcome the difficulties of our situation. Because of your help, I can go to work for my daughter.”

Camila and Victor are learning how to protect their son’s future — free from the difficulties Victor has faced. The support they’ve received has given them a renewed sense of hope.

“I’m so incredibly grateful because this has been a godsend for my family — for my son,” Camila says. “I simply don’t have the words to thank you.”