LIGHT & LIFE I

Bogota, Colombia

Hogares Luz Y Vida (Light & Life) was founded in 1991 by Sister Valeriana Isabel Garcia Martin from Seville, Spain. Originally intended as a home for blind children, it quickly became a refuge for children with a variety of physical, mental, and social needs. Today, Luz Y Vida provides, food, shelter, and education for hundreds of children throughout Colombia.

   
  
     
  
   
  
     
  
   
  
     
  
The various buildings in the orphange are connected via ramps as opposed to stairs, making it possible for those in wheelchairs to access any part of the facility.
   
  
     
  
   
"When people ask me what we need, I say lots of love. People can live with very few things, but they cannot live without love. Love is essential." Sister Valeriana, Director and Founder
   
     
  
   
  
     
  
Colleen Morey, an educator based in Greenwich, CT, has been organizing visits to the orphanage since 1994. Volunteers come from all age groups and backgrounds, and the experience often provides unexpected rewards to those who make the journey.
  
  
The Juan Garcia School is purposely situated in one of Bogota's poorest neighborhoods in the hopes that an education will spare some from a life on the street. Construction has now begun to add a high school to the existing structure.