the child DEVELOPMENT center

Our partnership with Fundacion Formavida in Colombia’s capital of Bogotá is where everything began for Mission Life! 

After much research, our founder and CEO, Angel Galvis, was led by God to meet the director of Formavida, Lucy Lancheros, and her husband, Ricardo. Together they built a plan to help the center’s children break the cycle of poverty in one of the most marginalized communities of Bogotá. 

In 2007, God called Lucy to the mountainside neighborhood of Santa Cecilia where Ricardo grew up. The neighborhood is now recognized as “La Mariposa” (butterfly) because the houses are painted to create the shape of a butterfly when viewed from the bottom of the mountain. Together with Lucy’s background in social work and Ricardo’s expertise in construction, they built the center with donated materials into what it is today. 

Lucy says Formavida began in the heart of God to transform generations. Today, Formavida serves close to 200 children in its program called Oasis. It is called Oasis because Lucy says Colombia is in a spiritual desert. Oasis teaches the children about God’s love and His values with the hope that they will make the right choices as they grow up and carry on His message. 

Formavida has a staff of dedicated teachers. Many were part of Oasis when they were children and are now social workers who can work with families. It is a beautiful result of the vision of the program to raise spiritual leaders.

Through child sponsorship, the children are provided a safe environment that gets them off the streets. Each day they receive a warm meal, help with homework, and teaching of transformational Christian values and principles. They have the opportunity to discover their skills and talents through singing, dancing, arts and crafts, sports, and recreation. 

With the intention of reaching the community, the program continues to expand. In 2020, they added a storefront bakery, sewing shop, sports court, and recycling project, all with the goal of teaching teens and young mothers life skills that help them get jobs.

As a sponsor, you have the opportunity to change a child’s life at Formavida! As you interact with them, you’ll learn more about their background, and you will experience what it is like to love a child in another part of the world and have your life impacted as well.