‘Nicole Lyn Anderson’ opens its doors to the neediest children

WENDY MOLINA P.
Special for EL TIEMPO BARRANQUILLA

This is the fifth center in the Caribbean area of Colombia and it carries the name of an American who supported the project and sponsored two girls in Barranquilla before passing away last October.

It was a Wednesday afternoon when the Children International-Colombia community center opened its doors in Soledad (Atlántico).

In every corner of the property you could feel that woman’s spirit, who from the beyond witnessed the realization of her vision.

The inauguration was framed within the memories, dreams and goals that Nicole had for the poor children of the Atlántico region, which did not crumble despite her death. On the contrary, it was built and today benefits 3,614 children; soon, however, 6,000 will enjoy it.

The Children International community center opened its doors in Soledad (Atlántico). Photo: Alfonso Cervantes/EL TIEMPO

“I remember one time we were driving and Nicole told me she was furious because she was not going to be able to see her children get married, her son’s music concerts, or see the completion of the center to which she had dedicated so much of herself. Today she must be seeing her dream from heaven,” reminisced Brian, who had an emotional reunion with the two girls he and his wife, Nicole, sponsored together.

Tyler, Nicole’s son, sang two songs in her memory, flooding the atmosphere with emotion and happiness, because one of his mother’s dreams had finally come true: helping those with the greatest need. Tears were shed.

The first beneficiaries of the new center come from the La Sierrita and Rebolo neighborhoods in Barraquilla and Mesolandia in the municipality of Malambo (Atlántico).

The Soledad center was chosen as a venue for coverage and expansion because of the level of poverty and because it is located in between Barranquilla and Malambo.

The center has two medical clinics, one dental clinic, a room for taking lab samples, a pharmacy, a file room, a library, a youth hall, a training hall, a playground, an IT office, a waiting room, administrative offices and a reception hall.

“This center represents a great investment in the needy children and families of this community because we really tend to their needs. It is not only a significant investment from CI, our sponsors and donors, an extensive network of loyal local organizations, the executive committee and the Fundación Amigos de los Niños staff, but it also represents the long-term commitment by Children International towards this community.” said the president of Children International, James Cook.

This building was made possible thanks to assistance from the Barranquilla Rotary Club, who rented the 11,000 square meter plot of land free of cost for 99 years, as well as local businesses such as the Port Society of Barranquilla, AAA, Hospital del Norte Foundation, Puccini Teherán Ltd., Energía Empresarial de la Costa, Energía Solar, Fundación Argos, Teruel Organization and the community.

Also attending the inauguration were Billy Hernández, the executive committee president of Children International-Colombia Fundación Amigo de los Niños Barranquilla and the Barranquilla Rotary Club, Hermelinda Guarín, director of the CI local agency, monsignor Rubén Salazar, the archbishop of the Catholic church in the Atlántico region, Antonio Fernando Castillo, mayor of Soledad, and José Zúñiga Riascos, mayor of Santa Marta, who also supports the idea of building a similar center in that city.