La Casa de la Madre y el Niño was founded in 1942 by María López de Escobar. Since that time it was granted official legal license to operate.

La Casa de la Madre y el Niño’s first headquarters was a one-story English style home where amid uncomfortable facilities and limited physical resources, it was possible to provide the children with the attention and care they needed. This situation whereby children were without families drove the founder to develop this pioneering project. Until the foundation of the institution unwanted babies were taken to a Hospice, the founder changed this so that these children could find love, respect, a home and a chance to be a part of a family where they are welcomed with open arms.

Her active and untiring spirit, together with the efforts of her primary collaborators and her various volunteers made the foundation of La Casa possible.  They, together with their various commitments, focus their attention on the children who require special care; so they built a special incubator for premature babies (made from homemade materials).

The concept of adoption in Colombian society at the time was beginning to change thanks to the hard work of the director and the volunteers of La Casa. This change also influenced the trust and credibility of many national and international married couples giving other couples the confidence they needed to follow the same path.

Our founder María López de Escobar’s leadership, strong will and commitment created a solid institution, which her daughter, Barbara Escobar, has continued with the same spirit for more than thirty years. She has persevered in this task with professionalism and full hearted dedication together with a team of volunteers and workers like Ines Elvira Cuellar Uribe Fajardo and Maria Cristina de la Torre. Together with them a very special group of people have been devoted to adapt  La Casa to the needs and demands of these times. Currently, this group also consists of volunteer parents, adoptive grandparents and adoptive children who bring in their love, enthusiasm and experience.

In 1978,the then President of the Republic, Dr. Alfonso Lopez Michelsen, inaugurated “La Casa de la Madre Soltera o Mujer Gestante” (The Home for the Single or Expectant Mother). Since then we have helped over two thousand five hundred mothers.

La Casa has also played an important role in  actively promoting laws and regulations to protect vulnerable children and pregnant women. Thanks to these efforts, and to that of other institutions, it was possible for the adopted child to be recognized by law as a legitimate child with all their rights and obligations

La Casa now collaborates with state institutions in the comprehensive care of vulnerable children and unprotected groups of the population.

Philosophy

Since its foundation the institution was perceived as a social non-profit organization, and has been guided by the mission to serve as a bridge between the love of adoptive parents and adoptive children. For over sixty years we have protected the children who have not asked to be born and who are entitled to a home. We have also helped protect and guide expectant mothers going through an unwanted pregnancy by helping them throughout this period and also by providing them with education and comprehensive training.

Our greatest asset is the quality service provided daily to children, adoptive parents and mothers. We seek continuous improvement and the completion of tasks.

All services provided by La Casa are free of charge.

With our daily work we intend to strengthen our relationships and work as a team with other institutions that also provide programs focused on the same targets and sharing the same values.

Our most important resources are supporting life and working with love.