1. Smile Factory Endowment
Photography: Jonatan Bermúdez @filmakero
Partners
Fundación Clínica Noel
Location
Medellín, Antioquia
Objectives
To improve surgical outcomes for the most vulnerable children in the department of Antioquia by reducing waiting times and ensuring the highest quality standards.
Activities
Acquisition of a state-of-the-art anesthesia machine for Operating Room #5 of the Foundation.
Purchase of a surgical table to equip Operating Room #5 of the foundation.
Training of healthcare personnel in the proper use of the surgical table and anesthesia machine.
Scheduling and performing surgeries in Operating Room #5 of the Foundation.
Results
A surgical table and an anesthesia machine were acquired for the Noel Clinic Foundation's Operating Room. As a result, the following outcomes were achieved:
Improved surgical scheduling efficiency, reducing the average waiting time from 4 months to 2.5 months in specialties such as plastic surgery, orthopedics, and otolaryngology.
From April to December, following the installation of the surgical table, 5,738 patients were scheduled for surgical procedures—an increase of 1,101 compared to the same period in 2023, representing a 23.74% growth.
An additional operating room was equipped and put into operation, allowing the Noel Clinic to expand its surgical capacity by 25%, which translates to over 1,600 additional surgeries per year.
BENEFICIARIES
Direct:
1500 boys and girls
Indirect:
4500 members of the children's families
2. Dream weavers
Photography: Jonatan Bermúdez @filmakero
Partners
Fundación Caricias de Sol
Location
Apartadó, Antioquia
Objectives
To promote labor inclusion and economic development for young people with intellectual disabilities and special needs through the adaptation and improvement of the “Tejedores de Sueños” bakery and pastry production unit.
Activities
Psycho-social support for young participants to develop and strengthen life skills, including personal autonomy, social skills, communication, and leadership.
Workshops and ongoing support for young people to acquire and enhance skills in baking, pastry making, and customer service, demonstrating competence in the production of high-quality products.
Purchase of equipment and utensils necessary for the bakery to enhance the quantity and quality of production, including ovens and baking trays.
Employment of young people with disabilities in the bakery, with necessary adjustments made to work processes and roles, along with support in the formalization of the hiring process.
Results
The bakery production unit was fully adapted and equipped with an industrial oven and new baking trays, ensuring an inclusive and safe working environment for young people with disabilities. Bakery sales increased by 35% due to improved production capacity and product quality. The new oven enabled the team to increase output from 24 units to 120 per baking cycle.
Participating youth acquired and strengthened their skills in baking, pastry making, and customer service, demonstrating competence in the production of high-quality products.
Twelve young people with disabilities were hired as bakery assistants under formal employment contracts, including the payment of social benefits. 85% of the participants were actively involved in the production process, following established techniques and procedures, while 83% participated in the preparation of raw materials.
Participants also reported improvements in self-esteem, family and community involvement, independence, communication, leadership, and decision-making skills. Their economic contribution to their households had a positive impact on their self-confidence and on how they are perceived by their families.
BENEFICIARIES
Direct:
12 young people formally employed by the bakery and 100 trained and supported in their process of developing and strengthening social and baking skills.
Indirect:
150 family members.
3. Equipping shinny futures - Equipping Bright Futures for Teenage Mothers”
Photography: Alfredo “Timo” Castellar
Partners
Fundación Juanfe.
Location
Cartagena, Bolívar.
Objectives
To train, empower, and transform the lives of 90 adolescent mothers living in situations of vulnerability and poverty, enabling them to build a safe, hopeful, and dignified life path through transformative education. This education will allow them to access formal, stable, and dignified employment, improving the quality of life for themselves, their children, and their families.
Activities
Acquisition and renewal of equipment for training in hairdressing, makeup, beauty, and culinary arts
Renovation of training spaces, including the installation of the acquired equipment in areas designated for technical training in beauty and culinary arts
Technical and vocational training in Comprehensive Beauty and Culinary Arts
Results
The culinary and beauty workshop spaces were adapted and equipped with the necessary layout and tools to enable adolescent mothers to develop the skills required to thrive in a real work environment. These training areas simulate professional settings that the participants are likely to encounter upon completing their training process. Each year, 300 adolescent mothers benefit from these spaces and the hands-on training materials provided.
The culinary workshop was equipped with a refrigerator, an industrial stove, worktables, bowls, knives, ladles, and storage furniture for food and supplies. The beauty workshop was furnished with, among other items, manicure and pedicure chairs, swivel hairdressing chairs, mirrors, brushes, hair straighteners, curling irons, shelving, mobile drawers, and the space was adapted to closely resemble a real beauty salon.
BENEFICIARIES
Direct:
240 adolescent mothers.
Indirect:
240 young children (sons and daughters of the participants).
720 family members.
4. Gift house New headquarters
Photography: Alfredo “Timo” Castellar
Partners
Fundación del Club Rotario de Cartagena de Indias
Location
Turbaco, Bolívar
Objectives
To build the kitchen and dining area of the new Casa de los Dones facility in order to double the number of children served by the program, supporting their process of rights restoration and personal development.
Activities
Construction of a kitchen with the capacity to provide meals for 250 users, meeting the regulatory requirements for certification in good manufacturing practices (GMP).
Construction of a dining area for the beneficiaries of the Casa de los Dones programs.
Providing a space for personal growth, skill development, and the promotion of social awareness.
Results
The new Casa de los Dones home includes a modern and functional industrial kitchen, designed to ensure hygienic and efficient food preparation. It is equipped with state-of-the-art appliances that comply with Colombian health and food safety regulations and will operate in scheduled batches.
Children and senior citizens at Casa de los Dones now have access to a spacious, comfortable, and well-ventilated dining area, designed to serve beneficiaries in a dignified and appropriate setting.
The newly constructed space will also accommodate educational and recreational activities for children, youth, and older adults.
BENEFICIARIES
Direct:
25 children living in the boarding school.
225 male youth alumni.
Indirect:
100 older adults.
5. The school we dream of
Partners
Un TECHO para mi país Colombia
Location
Isla Salamanca, Sitio Nuevo, Magdalena
Objectives
To contribute to dignified access to education for the boys and girls of the Las Flores sector in Isla Salamanca through the improvement of existing infrastructure and the strengthening of community development.
Activities
Meetings and workshops aimed at strengthening community capacities for the care and sustainability of educational infrastructure.
Strengthening community participation in infrastructure improvement activities to empower local residents.
Construction and adaptation of educational spaces that ensure the enjoyment of the right to education for boys and girls
Results
A safe, dignified, and adequate educational facility was built, providing appropriate conditions for habitability, ventilation, protection from the weather, lighting, and space for learning.
A water tower and sanitary facilities were constructed, ensuring that boys and girls have access to basic hygiene and sanitation conditions.
The community actively participated in the process of using, appropriating, and caring for the new educational space, recognizing it as a hub for collective development.
The community now has a shared gathering space, which fosters collective pride and a sense of belonging. This space enables the planning and implementation of actions that support community cohesion and development.
