The Powerful Effect of Volunteering at Casa de Sueños
What happens when a bilingual sixteen-year-old from New York volunteers to work with kids at a nonprofit foundation during his summer vacation?
Bonds form. Laughter erupts. Inspiration strikes. Commitment deepens.
Meet Alec Murillo, a bilingual child of an American mother and Colombian father who spent several weeks each of the last two summers volunteering at Casa de Sueños.
Alec, like other volunteers and nonprofit workers, has enthusiasm, compassion, and a belief that even small actions can positively affect the future.
A volunteer opportunity for everyone
Alec’s dad has relatives living in Medellin, but the family’s connection to Medellin is far deeper than blood ties. Their connection to Colombia and this community includes the willingness to “give back” and work for the good of others. That’s why, when they visited last summer, the family looked for volunteer opportunities.
Looking for volunteers meant a Google search of the area. Casa de Sueños, Medellin’s premier foundation for poor children and abused young women, was at the forefront of places to volunteer. Casa de Sueños is known for its Transformation Project which offers “social tourism,” a chance to volunteer while being immersed in the culture of Medellin, taking tours, and learning about the city.
However, because Alec already had a place to stay and because he was already familiar with the culture, he chose not to enroll in the Transformation Project but to develop a customized plan for volunteering with Casa de Sueños. Casa de Sueños welcomes all volunteers and will work with anyone of any nationality to develop a volunteer plan that suits the talents and training of each person.
To become a volunteer, a person applies and goes through interviews. Both the application and the interviews enable the staff at Casa de Suenos to determine whether the applicant is acceptable. They also allow the team to assess the candidate’s talents. Together, they set a schedule and plan what the role of the volunteer will be. Dozens of opportunities exist, from teaching mini-lessons on the country the volunteer comes from, instructing students on English phrases, assisting in art projects, participating in team sports or outings, and working in the kitchen, to name just a few.
Life lessons of one teenager volunteering at Casa de Sueños
Alec loved working with the kids at Casa de Sueños. His experiences taught him life lessons and the positive impact of volunteering.
Here’s what he shared:
Life Lesson #1: The international contingent of volunteers enriches the experience at Casa de Suenos for kids, employees, and other volunteers
“It was gratifying to work with other volunteers from other countries. While I was there, volunteers from Singapore, Pakistan, Italy, and Germany were also there working. That made the experience really special and enriched my experience. It also made me realize that Americans and the international cohort are an important component of Casa de Sueños’ success with volunteer programming and teaching the children.
One of my favorite things about my volunteer experience was being with the other volunteers who were so passionate!”
Life Lesson #2: Time really does fly when you’re having fun!
“My absolute favorite thing about volunteering at Casa de Sueños is getting to be friends with the kids at the daycare.
Working with the kids was so much fun. They had so many questions when I first got there about what my life in New York was like…about whether things they’d heard were true. And they weren’t afraid to tease me when I made mistakes with my Spanish, to laugh at me about my wild hair!
When I’m there, playing soccer, or singing or dancing with them, the time just disappears. No matter how long I had been there, the five or six hours flew by. It goes so fast.
When I had to leave at the end of my stay, the kids made me bracelets. I still have them. They help me remember where I am and where I was.”
Life Lesson #3: Casa de Sueños provides a safe haven for kids who need it
“I’m so impressed with the staff at Casa de Sueños. They provide such a welcoming, joyful place.
Many of these children don’t have parents. Many are from refugee families. They all have their own predicaments, and they are so happy to be there at the foundation, finding friends, and being loved.
Something beautiful about the foundation is how close the kids are with one another. They really care about each other and are super protective of each other. It’s honorable and special to see them interact.”
Life Lesson #4: Kids at Casa de Sueños are encouraged to learn
“I gave the young kids some English lessons, and one girl stood out. She was really excited about learning and was progressing fast. When the others took a break, she would want to stay back with me and keep going. Her name was Milagros.
Casa de Sueños encouraged everyone to learn, and Milagros did. In fact, Milagros often watched over other children, nurturing them, protecting them, and encouraging them to learn, too.”
Life Lesson #5: I can use what I know to help the kids at Casa de Sueños
“Volunteering at the foundation inspired me to use what I know to help the kids at Casa de Sueños. I got the idea that native Spanish/English bilingual students like me– or advanced Spanish speakers at my high school – might be able to offer tutoring in English to the children via Zoom.
The idea won a grant from my high school. Students applied by pitching concepts that would help our communities. My school awarded me one of the grants, and it will help fund the program. We’re in the final stages of development, now.
My Spanish department has offered a teacher to support the high school students who choose to do this volunteer tutoring, and I’ll design a template of common phrases and other information that will be helpful for the tutors to have on hand.
It’s exciting! It will help teach the children English while giving high school students real-life experience. The tutoring program will provide the satisfaction of giving your time and talents for the good of someone else. In addition, it will help students fulfill the public service requirement for graduation, although that is not the reason I came up with the idea!”
Life Lesson #6: Volunteering at Casa de Sueños has an effect on the future
“The driving force of my volunteering for the kids at Casa de Sueños came from something Lorena said to me:
What we do for the kids isn’t just for today.
For each one of those kids you help, you can take them to where they deserve to get to, education-wise and career-wise. In the same way, you are not just helping that one kid, but their parents, their entire family, and their kids and every generation to follow.
Wow. Leaving that type of legacy is priceless!
I know 7-year-olds aren’t that introspective about how they can give back and offer opportunities to others that they didn’t have, but maybe when the kids I worked with are adults, they’ll remember how Casa de Sueños and the people there helped them, and they’ll decide to do the same thing for the next generation.
Even the prospect of that happening when they’re adults is worth trying for.
I don’t think there’s anything that would make me prouder than to see them in that position when they’re older.”
Join Alec in his passion for helping the kids at Casa de Sueños!
While you may not be able to spend several weeks volunteering at Casa de Sueños, there are many ways to help this foundation. You can offer your prayerful support. Ask a business or church to sponsor us. Follow our Facebook page and share our mission with others. Hire our young women.
Of course, Casa de Sueños is a nonprofit foundation, which means that it can only operate with your donations, so your help is necessary. You can donate.
Join Alec, the staff, the volunteers, and all our supporters in helping the kids at Casa de Sueños by giving generously.