Emiliani Project, Columbia #2183

The Emiliani Project was founded in 2012 by three U.S. veterans after serving their country overseas and experiencing the severe dislocation of children firsthand in the conflicts they participated in. Those experiences inspired them to help children in need to have a better chance that would have none otherwise. They were led to Medellin, Colombia where they met Padre Jorge Villalobos and together they formed an alliance in saving abused and abandoned children.

The Emiliani Project, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) for children, takes its namesake from St. Jerome Emiliani. The patron saint of orphaned and abandoned children. He lived in Northern Italy in the late 1400’s and fought in the Venetian War. He was captured during a battle and imprisoned for 10 years. During that time, he developed a great devotion to Our Blessed Mother. One day, he escaped prison and became a priest and started a religious order called The Somascan Fathers. He dedicated the remainder of his life helping the children who were orphaned from the war he participated in by building shelters and schools for them. He inevitably died by contracting a disease from the children he was helping.

Our mission is to protect, nurture and educate abandoned children so that they are able to live healthy and fulfilling lives, from childhood through early adulthood. We achieve this mission by ensuring that all of our children’s needs are met. This includes a home, nutritious meals, formal education, medical care, counseling, and a loving and caring environment. We work with all children in need, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or gender.

Since 2014, The Emiliani Project has built a refuge for children – two dormitories with full-size bathrooms; each dormitory can house 30 children, a 3500 sq ft dining facility, five classrooms, a sports field, a playground, a pool area, a community bathroom and many other projects. We are currently raising money to build a church for the children and surrounding community.

In 2023, the Emiliani Project opened the doors to its home, Hogar de Cristo, to 14 children! Currently, as of April 2025, we have 25 children who receive the love and care needed to thrive despite the hardships they endured.

The Emiliani Project maximizes the direct benefit of all donations as a focused non-profit for children. We highly encourage our donors and volunteers to be directly involved with our projects. The Emiliani Project Board of Directors do not receive compensation of any kind. They are volunteers. 100% of your donation goes directly to our project and support of our children!!

We also provide opportunities for volunteers to join us on a Mission Trip. Volunteers can get a “grassroots” experience: working with children, construction work and many other things at our home. The Emiliani Project thanks you for your prayers and support! God bless.

For more information, visit www.emilianiproject.org.

Support the Emiliani Project, Columbia #2183

You can support the Emiliani Project, Columbia #2183 through your prayers and monetary donation by making a check payable to THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH, 3424 Wilshire Blvd 3rd Fl., Los Angeles CA 90010, memo #2183. You may also donate online by clicking the donate button. When making an online donation, reference #2183 in the Memo box. Your donation is tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Mission Cooperative Plan

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