What is Casa de Sueños?
Casa de Sueños, “House of Dreams,” is the premier nonprofit for poor children and abused young women in Medellin, Colombia. Our mission comes directly from Deuteronomy 15:11:
“I command you, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to the poor, and to the needy, in your land.’”
- We heal, educate, and guide poor children with food, counseling, teaching and love. We give them a chance at a better life.
- We lift young women out of drug and sex abuse and into a productive life.
- We feed the children, their families, and the community.
The history of Casa de Sueños
Ten years ago, our founder, Lorena Vasquez, felt God’s call to help children from the “inquilinatos,” or tenements. She understood their problems because she, too, had struggled with poverty and fear. Lorena knew the only way to overcome her surroundings was to work hard and study hard. She worked part-time jobs while going to school and graduated as a Public Accountant. Her degree was not enough. Lorena felt God had another calling for her: to help poor children and abused young women.
Lorena founded Casa de Sueños.
Two of our programs have received international recognition from the Konecta Foundation: The Childhood Program and the Helping Hand Program.
What is the Konecta Foundation and Why Is It a Big Deal?
The renowned Konecta Foundation is an international organization headquartered in Madrid, Spain. Konecta is a global player in developing workforces, particularly in Latin America. The organization focuses on supporting social development through innovative projects.
Konecta has bestowed two prestigious awards on Casa de Sueños for its exemplary programs.
No other foundation in Medellin has received these international rewards for programs dedicated to helping poor children and abused young women.
First, our Helping Hand Program was awarded this prestigious prize in 2017.
In 2019, Konecta also recognized our Childhood Program with the acclaimed award.
What is our “Childhood” Program?
Our Childhood Program is designed specifically to nurture young children. Both boys and girls aged 6 to 12 years of age are accepted. Children in this age range living in the tenements are often left alone during the day. Lorena understood this problem because she, too, experienced it as a young girl.
The program provides valuable social experiences, group activities, guidance, counseling, classes on computer literacy, and basic English education for these young children. Each child gets two meals a day. The staff serves with love and demonstrates Christian principles of service, generosity, and love.
How many children does the Childhood Program help?
Currently, we have 30 children in the program. We are thrilled to be able to take these children into Casa de Sueños, but there is a much greater need. We hope to reach many more children each semester with the help of our donors!
Our Childhood Program runs continually. As long as we have an opening, we’ll accept a child no matter what time of the semester it is.
What is our “Helping Hand” Program?
Girls in Medellín are at high risk for prostitution, drug addiction, and being coerced into the sex trade.
The unique Helping Hand program at Casa de Sueños gives young girls who are poor and disadvantaged, often abused and/or addicted, a chance to become healthy, productive citizens.
How Casa de Suenos Gives a Helping Hand to Abused Young Women
The program includes training in basic life skills like money management and budgeting, English education, computer literacy, basic business skills, and counseling from a psychologist and a social worker.
Like the younger children, these abused young women also receive two meals a day.
Friends, fellowship, and faith are intangible components of the healing program.
How do you recruit your students?
You need to know about Lulu. She’s the one who gets calls from schools and agencies. She visits other foundations and finds children and young women who want help.
How Casa de Suenos and Lulu Conquer Fear with Love Every Day
Our one criterion for the Childhood Program is that an adult must commit to getting the children to Casa de Sueños daily.
The young women who enroll in our Helping Hand program must pledge to use birth control.
How do you help families?
Casa de Sueños offers courses for parents. It’s not easy to do good parenting, especially if you’re experiencing problems or have never had a good example. We offer classes that help them gain an understanding of a child’s human rights and show them how to be good parents.
We also have a food aid program that offers sustenance when needed.
In addition, we help parents prepare for and search for jobs.
If we see that they need psychological assistance or emotional counseling, we offer help through our professional staff.
Many of our families are those of the students enrolled at Casa de Sueños, but that is not a requirement. We help anyone in need who comes to us.
Casa de Sueños believes that God blessed us to bless others…not just people who are part of our foundation!
How can volunteers help?
Medellin is an international tourist destination, a beautiful, temperate city. Many people come here who want to interact with the local population. We welcome the volunteers and offer them a chance to have an amazing experience helping our students.
Five Ways to Bring Light to a Dark World: Help Casa de Sueños
Where are you located?
Carrera 48 #62-64 Barrio Prado
Medellin, Colombia 050012
How do I contact Casa de Sueños?
Email us at info@casadesuenos.co
Find out more at www.casadesuenos.co
How Can I Donate?
Donating is simple.
Go to our Donate Page.
You’ll be directed to our page that allows you to make donations of any size or any frequency…and every donation helps us continue to work for the good of poor young children and abused young women.