The highlight of our trip to Caldas, Colombia in December 2022, with The Emiliani Project, was the time spent with the children, playing games and celebrating Christmas. Seeing the smiles on the faces of the children as Santa passed out gifts to them and their friend was so special. Meeting beautiful people and working in a beautiful country is a memory that we will cherish for a long time to come.

It showed me that this will be the beginning of a lifelong and giving friendship with The Emiliani Project.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I went on my first trip to Colombia with Emiliani…5 years later, I couldn’t imagine a more purposeful vocation for my life! I have not only witnessed, but have been a part of capturing the vision of Emiliani’s continued focus and goal: to provide all children, particularly the orphaned and abandoned, with a safe place to learn and grow, and experience Christ’s love.

[These kids] welcomed me and all the other volunteers in from the moment we arrived and were always eager to take care of us even though we went there for them! By the end of the trip, it seemed they had given us more than we could have ever provided for them. My time invested with The Emiliani Project was worthwhile and I would not hesitate to head back for another round of volunteering.

Visiting Colombia with [The] Emiliani Project was one of the most forming experiences I had [as] a young adult. I got to experience some of the most authentic and Christlike love and hospitality from the children, staff, and friends of Emiliani project. A lot of times people travel to places like this with the genuine intention of making a difference, but the best part of the trip is seeing how these kids and staff change you.

We have been taking groups to Colombia from Canada with The Emiliani Project for eight years. They have been more than helpful, making our experience a real Mission: one where we receive from the young people and staff of the Home so much more than we could ever give.