BEHIND THE DONATIONS...
This is your exclusive behind-the-scenes look at our on-site foundation work. We had the opportunity to meet our partner foundations and work with them directly, experiencing the other side of donations and connecting with them personally.
See firsthand where donations go, witness the real impact, and understand how every contribution creates a direct connection between giving and change.
first bridge building...
To get a glimpse of what it’s like on the other side of donations, Siona, our co-founder, planned a trip to South America in the summer of 2025. There, she had the opportunity to work with the partner foundation ,,Casa de Dos Zoe,, in Chia, Colombia, connecting with people whose lives have been changed thanks to these foundations.
So she made a recap to share her experience with the Baila Florecita Community, to show the people how much they actually helped.
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It often left me speechless to see how this complex system actually works.
There is so much that has to be taken care of every single day to keep the foundation running: hygiene standards, new bed sheets every year, three nutritious meals a day, and new clothes for all the children once a year. And that’s only the beginning.
Maria Paola and her team also coordinate the children returning to school, support teenagers who are studying or looking for work, and respond to the constant requests from new victims seeking help, while already having too little space.
It is honestly a small miracle how this team manages the constant pressure, the emotional weight of the work, and the chaos that naturally comes with more than 80 people living together.
What they have achieved, despite financial pressure and a shortage of staff, is truly admirable. And the results of their hard work speak for themselves.
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After spending just one day with these children, you are no longer the same.
The feeling of helplessness, of having so little power over what happens in the world, slowly faded day by day. I began to realize that every single smile from these children matters.
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In many ways, the children themselves are healing. Despite the hardships they have faced, they carry so much love within them. They are not afraid of adults, quite the opposite. They crave attention, something that is often hard to give when so many children are cared for by so few staff members.
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Many of the once-rescued children, now grown up, return on weekends to volunteer with the younger ones. Having once been victims of child exploitation themselves, they now give the children what they once needed most: love and attention.
For some of them, the cycle of sexual violence and exploitation can finally be broken.
And that gives hope.
Casa De Dios zoe-
chia, Colombia
The moment we arrived at the place we had only ever seen through screen, in zoom calls or videos, something unforgettable happened. A wave of curious, excited children running toward us. Within seconds we were surrounded: hugs, laughter, and dozens of excited questions about who we were and why we had come to visit them, they rarely get visitors, forgotten by the world it seemed.
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After that came the room tour, something I will never forget. Every free corner was used for a bed. The rooms were filled with them, and sometimes the only other piece of furniture was a single chair covered in piles of clothes. The kitchen, however, was stocked with plenty of food. When I asked how many people were living there, the answer shocked us.
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Outside, the foundation’s garden offers a small place of joy, with swings, climbing structures, and sofas where children can simply be children.
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In a space where in Switzerland one, maybe two families would live, more than 80 people currently share their lives together, children, their mothers, and orphans.
inside the community...
In the following days, we got to know the foundation better, Maria Paola, its inspiring leader, the two incredible staff members, the rescued mothers, and especially the children.
In just a few days, we learned more than in many years of school, lessons we will never forget.
At first, I wondered how living in such a small place with so many people and only one garden could work. A psychologist explained it to us: even with very little privacy, it is worth it for them, the alternative would be the streets again.
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And more importantly, they truly live like a big family. When a new child arrives after being rescued from exploitation, they often have no idea what a safe life or a caring family looks like. The others, who have been there longer, understand that feeling and support the newcomers.
For many of these children, this sense of family becomes an essential part of their healing.
The small change...
This incredible experience allowed me, and now us as an organization, to grow tremendously, because it showed us why this work is so important and why it is always worthwhile to do something good.
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Because doing something good for us can change someone else's whole life.​
Among all the valuable connections I made with the children, there was one girl who particularly caught my attention and with whom I spent a lot of time:
Read Andrea's story here.​​
Second bridge...
The travel from Siona took an unexpected turn when Anna called with the news that she could come to Ecuador to meet our second partner foundation.
Suddenly, we had the opportunity not only to visit them, but also to build a personal connection with the team and the people whose lives they are supporting.
We had the opportunity to join them on street work, observing exactly where our money went and what huge impact this had.
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Here is a small insight into our experience of social street work with Loco Living:
loco living-
cuenca, ecuador
Our first impression of meeting the partners in real life was filled with excitement, curiosity, and a healthy dose of skepticism.
But as soon as we actually met them, that skepticism quickly transformed into pure inspiration.
Learning and growing
Loco Living is already much more professional and larger than Baila Florecita, yet they made sure everyone was included in the meetings and that their planned projects for the week involved us while we were there.
This gave us the chance to take away valuable lessons and insights from their collaborative approach.
Connections that hold on
The one-on-one work with the people was truly rewarding. Those who have so little often give back the little they do have, and a simple smile became the greatest reward of the day. The values we stand for at Baila Florecita were fully reflected in Loco Living’s approach, giving us complete confidence in the collaboration. We hope to work with them again someday.
Step by step, bridge by bridge, meaningful connections are being built.
To be continued...
At Baila Florecita, we focus on where help is needed most, not just one project. That’s why each event works with two trusted partner foundations, so every contribution reaches the communities that benefit the most, while ensuring projects are carefully managed and impactful.
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Curious about our next big event and who we gonna support there?
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