Please Sponsor Hellen Sánchez!

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Hellen Sánchez Rivera

Nickname: Hellen
Birthday: 5/19/2014
Gender: Female
Siblings: 2
Entrance Date: 1/30/2025
Grade: 4
Home Level: 1

About Hellen: Hellen was previously in the process of comprehensive care and training at the Hogar Bohío de María in 2021. Her mother uses or is addicted to psychoactive substances. Before coming to the Hogar, her cousin was in charge of the girl.

Her cousin requested reinstatement since she returned to the country. During that time Hellen was under her mother's responsibility and there was negligence in her care, the child remained alone for several days due to the mother's absence and poor feeding.

Her cousin Astrid is unable to take full responsibility for the child due to her work responsibilities.

Home Duties & Privileges: Hellen is part of the first stage of adaptation, where she works on the institution's educational proposal, the values of obedience and respect, as well as organizational criteria. She takes on cleaning tasks in some spaces, makes her bed, washes her clothing, attends school in the morning and participates in other educational projects. She goes out every two weeks to spend time with her cousin.

Hobbies & Sports: Her favorite color is pink, her favorite food is beans, and she likes volleyball.

"What I like most about home are the scheduled activities, the food, and the soccer field."

What does hellen want to be when she grows up? When Hellen grows up she wants to be a doctor or a veterinarian.

!!! Updates for Hellen !!!

Hellen is a 12-year-old girl, born in Medellín, with a vibrant and protective personality. She has ambitious and varied dreams: she wants to be a detective because of her love for action, or a singer because of her passion for music. She feels deeply grateful for the kind treatment, the fresh air, and the food she receives (with beans and "salchipapa" being her favorites). Her greatest wish is for the foundation to exist for many years, and she invites volunteers to meet the children at the home, whom she describes as affectionate and respectful.

Hellen returned to Hogar de Cristo after a period of extreme vulnerability under the care of her mother, who struggles with addiction. During that time, Hellen suffered severe neglect, being left alone for several days with poor nutrition. Given this situation, her cousin Astrid-who had previously sought support for her in 2021-requested her permanent reinstatement into the foundation's comprehensive program, as her own work responsibilities prevented her from providing the constant care and protection Hellen needed for her well-being.

What's new in school? Hellen is a student with diverse and balanced academic interests. Her favorite subjects are Mathematics and English, demonstrating a great capacity for both logic and languages. She deeply values the foundation's educational environment and is motivated to learn, seeing her studies as the foundation for achieving her future professional goals.

What does she do after school? She is a very active and sociable girl. She enthusiastically participates in movie nights at the main house and in group exercise sessions. She has stood out for internalizing fundamental values, especially the Golden Rule: "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." She also engages in musical and dance activities on the sports field, sharing with her peers in an atmosphere of respect and joy.

What are her sports and hobbies? Her great sporting passion is volleyball, though she also enjoys playing soccer. In her free time, she loves watching movies and exercising. She has a unique curiosity about the local wildlife, mentioning that she likes snakes, dogs, and the home's goose. Her favorite places are the sports field and the main house, spaces where she combines sports with healthy recreation.

Frequently asked questions

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Am I the only sponsor for a child?

No. Unlike most of the other child sponsorship programs, we allow a child to have multiple sponsors. Other sponsorship organizations provide many wonderful services for their children; food, clothing, education. We are a little bit different in that we are operating a Home for these kids and thus also provide them with a place to live, staff to cook food for them them and teachers to educate them.

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What happens if a child leaves the home?

Many kids at the home are in volatile situations where they may have family members in the area, but are unable to provide for their children. Although we are given guardianship over the children, family members, according to Colombian law, maintain their authority. If a family member arrives to claim responsibility, we are obligated to relinquish the child to them. If this happens, you will be notified and your sponsorship will be moved to a new child, so that you can continue helping children.