Revisiting CRAN

Before we finish our stay here in Colombia it would be very remiss if we didn’t spend a little time looking at the fantastic work CRAN do both here in Colombia, and for many, many families overseas.

                          

CRAN is an orphanage, housing around 80-90 children at any one time. Many children are placed at CRAN by Colombian social services because challenges they face in their home environment. Some children spend time at CRAN before returning to their families, but many become the subject of adoptions, both domestic and international. The children who are resident vary in age from 2 to 9 years.  Babies who come to CRAN through both their mothers programme and social services, are usually placed with foster mothers who may be caring for a maximum of 3 babies at any one time. This is where Sebastian spent his first months, only coming to CRAN when we came to Colombia to collect him. CRAN offer a full range of services to the resident children including accommodation, activities and exercise, education and medical attention. The monies donated to CRAN enable them to provide these, and other programs, to the many children in need of protection throughout Bogota. This also includes support for foster care, a mothers  program and biological family protection. CRAN is located on a hillside west of downtown Bogota, mostly away from the hustle and bustle of the city. In a taxi it takes about 30 minutes from where we are currently staying.

Of course we would not have Sebastian in our lives if it weren’t for the generous assistance of all the fantastic people at CRAN, including Ximena, Gonzalo, Marie-Christina and Sylvie, as well as the foster mother, Gloria, who cared so well for him during his first few months.

                    

For more information about CRAN please go to www.cran.org.co