Be a Hero!
We are currently building "The Coliseum" - a recreation center and a school for the community of Santa Cecilia, Colombia, There are no parks and the children have to travel to the city of Bogota to attend school, therefore, the Coliseum is essential and will have a great impact. The Coliseum will promote social formation. The plan is that the children will be able to dream and work toward a future with opportunity for advancement. The emotional impact of the plan is hope. Be a hero and help us empower the next generation.
Hope, Dreams and Transformation for Colombian Youth
Because our children are the leaders of tomorrow!
About Us
Forming Lives Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, as of August 2016, focusing its efforts on building a recreation center and a school aimed at improving the community of Santa Cecilia, Colombia. We want to provide education, mentoring and training programs as a tool to break the cycle of poverty.
* Santa Cecelia is an underdeveloped and underserved community with 10,000 residents of which 6,000 are between the ages of 0-15 years old lacking many social services. The recreation center and programs we envision will focus on community development and preparation to work and be prepared for a better future.
* 41% percent of Colombian households suffer from food insecurity. In rural areas like Santa Cecilia, food insecurity can impact 58.8% of families.
* Poverty remains a prevalent issue, with 35.7% of the population living below the poverty line (Colombian poverty line is equivalent to $5.50 USD per person, per day.
* A vibrant community recreation center has a stabilizing effect on the lives of youth in Santa Cecilia. By providing safe and adequately equipped spaces for physical activities like dance, soccer, rock climbing and other sports. The recreation centers provide space to develop discipline, healthy exercise habits, and teamwork. It also creates the perfect setting for local mentorship programs, providing guidance and leadership development for the youth of the community. The role of community recreation centers is especially crucial for communities, like Santa Cecilia, that lack the necessary facilities to keep their children in safe environments.
Ensuring community youth have a healthy outlet for their creativity and energy is an important step towards long-term improvement.
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You can contact us at 845-288-0656 or info@forming-lives.org
Vision & Mission
Vision Statement
To see Christ, transform lives and provide a hope for the better future by building a Coliseum (recreation center and school) in Santa Cecelia, a rural community above Bogota, Colombia aimed at improving the quality of life for over 200 children, teenagers, and young adults with opportunities for advancement and the ability to empower the next generation.
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Mission Statement
To facilitate spiritual, social and emotional growth for youth in Colombia by mentoring, training and building a recreation center.
We affirm God's purpose through honesty, love, respect, and teamwork.
Honesty
Love
we express beliefs, ideas, and opinions in a truthful, sincere and frank manner.
we show a genuine concern for the good of others, with unselfish acts of kindness, such as, compassion, caring, thoughtfulness, service, humanitarian and noble actions.
Respect
we will appreciate the diversity of our team and recognize each of us can bring a unique prospective.
Teamwork
we align ourselves to the mission of the organization and promote a spirit of cooperation. We share resources ad help each other solve problems. ​We trust and depend on one another and God as our ultimate source and friend.
Alexandra Martinez
This is definitely the place for my daughter to grow as she has the opportunity to know the Lord as so many other children, more will have the same opportunity with the addition of the Coliseum.
Ivanna
The Coliseum is necessary. The number of participants, both in the foundation and in the church, have grown. Thus, there is not enough space. The Coliseum will have the capacity to address the increase and reach all the children in the community so they may know the love of God.
Juan Daniel
Personally, I want to graduate with a degree in Engineering, and use what I learn to help build the Coliseum. It’s a big project that will help many in this community with work, building a relationship with God, and obtaining an education. This is a great gift from God to His people.