“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear…”
– 1 John 4:18
The fearlessness of Lulu
Would you walk into a neighborhood known to be frequented by drug dealers?
Would you worry about knocking on doors in areas of abject poverty?
Would you think twice about scouring the slums for people in need of help?
Luisa Gomez, “Lulu,” has no such qualms. She is fearless, focused entirely on helping others. Lulu admits that she has NEVER been scared or threatened while doing her job.
“When you do what you love, it motivates you to set aside fears and go out and help others.”
Casa de Sueños, the premier nonprofit for poor children and abused young women, is blessed by the dedication and energy of Lulu. Hundreds of others are grateful for Lulu’s devotion to the life-changing mission of Casa de Sueños, too.
A Calling, Not a Job
Throughout her life, Lulu has had a calling, a deep-seated desire to make a difference. She grew up in Medellin and began volunteering for foundations when she was young because helping other people gave her joy.
In 2016, she embarked on a life-changing adventure, moving to Brazil to volunteer for foundations that supported boarding schools. Three months turned into three years. Lulu went from being a volunteer for a few months to becoming a full-time employee working with vulnerable populations.
Returning to Her Roots
After Lulu’s time in Brazil, she made the decision to return to her homeland, Colombia, with the hope of initiating a nonprofit project in Medellin. It was there that she crossed paths with Lorena Vasquez, the driving force behind Casa de Sueños. She shared her dream of bringing food to those in poverty with Lorena, but circumstances didn’t align for Casa de Sueños and Lulu to work together at that time.
Undaunted, Lulu forged ahead with her idea of feeding the poor. With the help of passionate volunteers, she founded the “Talita” project in the Bello Oriente neighborhood.
Bello Oriente is a poor area, one of five neighborhoods often referred to as the Franja Alta of Comuna. Many of the people there are displaced women and children, without titles to homes. Because they are poor and can’t pay, they don’t have access to basic services like electricity and clean water.
Lulu created a community kitchen in this area that desperately needed the help, feeding families and setting an example of Christian benevolence.
Casa de Sueños and Lulu, the “Recruiter”
Life has a way of bringing people back together when the time is right.
One year after their meeting, Lorena Vasquez reached out to Lulu with an offer she couldn’t refuse – a position as a social and labor manager at Casa de Sueños. It was a chance to combine her passion with her profession, to do what she loved while being part of a greater mission.
Lulu is the person who finds poor children and abused young women who need – and want – help. She goes into schools, agencies who are protecting women, other foundations, and programs that aid in the restoration of legal rights.
It’s like mining for precious stones in the darkest places. Many young women have been pulled into the sex trade. Few are educated or trained for jobs. Some are drug addicts. Others are addicted to alcohol. The majority have suffered physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Most are traumatized and don’t know how to overcome their circumstances. Some are afraid every day of their lives.
Lulu knows, however, that each person has potential to thrive. She believes in the value of each human and is there to lift each one out of despair.
Any child or young woman who is interested in changing her life can begin enrollment in the Childhood or Helping Hand program at Casa de Sueños.
Casa de Sueños and Lulu: Overcoming Challenges
The road to transformation is never without its bumps.
It’s not the initial convincing that poses the challenge; it’s ensuring the commitment of students throughout the selection process that’s problematic. Many young women find it difficult to change their lifestyles, even when the changes are small but significant.
To commit to study. To refrain from unprotected sex. To obtain parental support for young children. Sometimes Lulu struggles to keep students focused on the end goal of changing their lives.
The Best Reward
When asked about the best part of her job, Lulu’s eyes light up. She gets to do what she loves while being intimately involved with Casas de Sueños. The long hours, the fatigue, and the challenges all pale in comparison to the knowledge that her efforts can change lives.
“Even though it’s sometimes tough and exhaustion overwhelms me, knowing that what I do can change lives makes it all worth it.”
Stories of Triumph
Lulu’s most cherished memories aren’t ones she can pinpoint with specific examples. Rather, her fulfillment comes from the daily joy of offering young women a life-altering opportunity, a chance to rewrite their futures. It’s the knowledge that she can help them obtain counseling and job-training, friendship and faith at Casa de Sueños.
Through Casa de Sueños, Lulu gets the chance to feed poor children, help them learn, and nurture their well-being.
She gets to rewrite the endings for hundreds of children and young women who might otherwise have had tragic stories.
The best stories are the ones yet to be written, where young women who once felt lost and uncertain now study and work towards their dreams.
Where children are no longer lonely and hungry. Where those who want help can find it.
In a world often preoccupied with self-interest, Lulu shows us the power of selflessness. She, and others like her, are the heart and soul of Casa de Sueños, a living testament to the belief that one person can make a profound difference in the lives of many.
You, too, can be the one person who makes a profound difference in the lives of many.
Give to Casa de Suenos.
