A shelter for children of the future

Before leaving their house, Norma Ordóñez and her husband Wilington gave last-minute instructions to the four teachers who would be in charge of the kindergarten during their absence. Neither of them has ever crossed the Atlantic and they were very excited to represent their town and -why not?- the Colombian entrepreneurs whose daily efforts serve their respective communities. Meanwhile, Norma also knew how much she would miss “her kids” with whom she spends a great part of her day. She was experiencing so many mixed feelings at the time, that she was grateful for her husband’s solid support.

Two decades have already passed since she opened the doors of her home to foster 18 infants. At present, she is proud to say that thanks to microcredits and Bancamía’s mentoring, her daycare center currently tends to nearly 50 youngsters, both boys and girls. Norma’s objective isn’t only to teach and protect them; she also facilitates a better quality of life for their parents who can now unworriedly go to work, knowing that their children are in good hands. This noble commitment to their community earned Norma a place as one of the panelists who would deliver their testimonies during the 10th Anniversary celebration of the BBVA Microfinance Foundation.

That was how her journey to Madrid began.

She was impressed at how enriching diversity could be

The capital city’s high temperature was both unexpected and surprising. But beyond the heat, it was the cultural difference which impacted her more. She was impressed at how enriching diversity could be. So much, that she promised herself to seek for scholarships for her sons, to give them the chance to be immersed in such an enlightening experience.

The night before the 10th Anniversary event, she felt very nervous simply imagining herself up on a stage, sharing her life projects and how she accomplished her dreams thanks to small loans. So to settle her nerves, she proceeded to inspect whether she had everything she needed. As a matter of fact, she made sure to get an appointment to have her hair fixed. Because who wouldn’t want to look splendid on a unique, special day? She didn’t merely fancy seeing a beautiful reflection in the mirror. She truly wanted to make sure that her intervention would be flawless- from her testimony and her speech, down to her physical appearance. She considered it the best way to pay tribute to the enterprising mothers of Colombia; most especially to the team of teachers who work with her, educating and caring for children in a socially and economically vulnerable environment like their town.

Norma, before the start of the event

On the day of the celebration, she was so anxious, she did not once let go of her husband’s hand. However, as she got more familiarized with the venue and the people, she gradually recovered her self-control. In fact, nobody could tell she was still a little jittery while meeting the Queen because she confidently introduced herself as, “Norma, from Colombia”.

An hour later, seated at the stage along with the rest of the entrepreneur panelists, her message conveyed how dreams could come true: “Bancamía’s support has definitely been essential not only for my home, but also for that of the 50 families who can depend on a safe place where they can entrust their kids… our house is a second home for them while their parents are at work.”

For children in primary school, the streets are their best recreational option from school’s dismissal until dinner time and Norma wishes to protect them from exposure to drugs and street crime

She also shared her mid-term goal which consists of buying a neighboring property to accommodate children in primary school. For this age group, the streets are their best recreational option from school’s dismissal until dinner time. Because of this, Norma wishes to protect them from exposure to drugs and street crime which are not uncommon in the neighborhood. A shelter such as hers could offer a safer and more advantageous alternative for the young ones.

Once the event reached its closure, Norma and her husband took the opportunity to talk to the guests who did not lose time to congratulate them and show how much their work is appreciated. Likewise, they approached the Queen to greet her and give her a pack of achiras con arequipe (Colombian cheese crackers eaten with milk fudge).

They also shared other typical Colombian delicacies with the rest of the attendees and the improvised feast was followed by an invitation to visit Soacha. This visit would allow people to get to know more about the work they do, and to meet the kids as well as the professors that work in the kindergarten.

Without an inch of a doubt, this trip to Madrid changed Norma’s life. She went back to Colombia bringing not only fresh ideas for her future projects, but also big ambitions for the kids under her care. She dreams for them to be able to contribute to positive changes in their country. Isn’t that fitting for the kids sheltered in a daycare center named “Children of the Future”?

 

Norma and the “Children of the Future”

LIFE STORIES