The philosophy

The purpose of our Foundation is to help underprivileged children from the shantytowns in Colombia. In our "Bambi" homes, we shelter children in distress, who have been abandoned or who are orphans, from their birth to the age of six. Our homes provide a roof over their heads, love and affection and all the care the children need for their welfare and development.

The "Bambi" homes

The first "Bambi" home was opened in 1985 by a Swiss doctor, Dr. Rupert Spillmann. Since then, his cousin Hans Ruedi Spillmann is continuously developing the Foundation. Today, there are 9 "Bambi" homes - three in Bogotá, three in Cali, two in Medellín and one in Darién.

These homes shelter an average of 600 children a year. A child stays in one of our homes until his or her mother finds the means of existence enabling her to fulfill the child's needs. The orphans, relatively few in number, will have a new life thanks to adoption through the obligatory agency of the state organization "Bienestar Familiar" with which we have excellent contacts.

A national director has been heading our organization in Colombia since 2005. She is in charge of the coordination between our homes, the allocation of the donations and the local fundraising. Our 100 on-the-spot workers are all Colombian; directors of homes, welfare workers, kindergarten mistresses, doctors or auxiliary personnel, all are fully involved and make an efficient contribution to the well-being and development of the children.

The awards

In 2007, the Colombian Government awarded the Foundation with the "Order of Merit" and, in april 2008, the rank of Commander of the Order of Congress, in recognition of the 23 years of activity devoted to the most destitute children of the country.

The PROMEFA program

Permanent hospitality for children

The main events of the year 2008

Throughout the year, many private initiatives contributed to the financing of our activities.

- The Colombian Embassy in Switzerland gave a reception in honor of the Foundation which received in April 2008 the Order of Congress from the Colombian Government.

- In December, the Action Commitee organized with great success its traditional Christmas Circus, thanks to the support of the Fondation Hans Wilsdorf and the City of Geneva.

- Opening of a second "Bambi" home in Medellín (Marinilla).

Thanks to the donation made by one Foundation, we introduced in 2000 a professional training program (PROMEFA) based on personal development and the learning of skills, for the mothers and/or fathers of the children we take care of in our homes. This program allows the parents to find a job and, as a result, to take their children back home. This program operates with increasing success.

The financing

The Swiss Foundation and our U.S. Branch cover about 55% of the total costs and the remaining 45% come directly from Colombia. This partnership remains precarious, considering the country's difficult situation due to the displaced and social problems.

Our "Bambi" home located in Darién, is annually supported and financed by an association of donors from Spiez (Switzerland).

The cost of caring for a child amounts to CHF 12.- per day.

Your financial support is essential for the continuance of our humanitarian efforts in favor of totally underprivileged children from the shantytowns of Bogotá, Cali, Medellín and the rural region of Darién-Valle.

The donations made to the Foundation are integrally remitted to the "Bambi" homes.