Our History
CE CAMILO is part of a group of social projects founded by the Camillian Religious of Holland in the La Paz neighborhood of Barranquilla. We were born from a program for malnourished children and community development, founded in 1985, which since 1987 included help for children and adolescents with disabilities.
In 1998 we built the first stage of the current CE CAMILO headquarters with support from donors from Holland and Germany.
Between 1998 and 2006, the Centre was called the La Paz Recovery Centre and was part of the San Camilo Centre Corporation. In 2006, it established its own foundation with its Board of Directors to promote and protect the rights of people with disabilities in strata 1 and 2 and improve their quality of life through education, rehabilitation, support and advisory services.
Saint Camillus
CE CAMILO tiene su nombre de Camilo de Lellis, fundador de la orden de los Ministros de los Enfermos, más conocidos como Religiosos Camilos.
Camilo vivía de 1550 a 1614 en Italia. Era un mercenario, pero por una herida en su pierna no pudo continuar su carrera militar. Buscó curación en el hospital de los pobres en Roma. Su herida nunca sanó pero cuando vio la miseria de los otros enfermos decidió quedarse para atenderlos.
En su último año de vida resumió para sus hermanos religiosos su experiencia de 35 años de servicio a los enfermos en 10 mandamientos.
Los mandamientos de San Camilo.
CE CAMILO adaptó los mandamientos en la siguiente forma:
Yo tengo una discapacidad y por eso soy tu Señor y el Amo de CE CAMILO:
-
Honra la dignidad y santidad de mi persona, imagen de Cristo, por encima de mi fragilidad y limitaciones.
-
Sírveme con amor respetuoso y solícito: con todo tu corazón, con toda tu inteligencia, con todas tus fuerzas y con todo tu tiempo.
-
Cuídame cómo quisieras tú ser atendido, como una madre afectuosa y llena de ternura cuidara a su único hijo enfermo.
-
Sé voz de los sin voz: hazte defensor de mis derechos, para que sean reconocidos y respetados.
-
Evita toda distracción que pueda poner en peligro mi salud o agravar mi angustia.
-
No frustres mi esperanza con tu afán e impaciencia, con tu falta de delicadeza y competencia.
-
Soy un “todo”, un ser integral: sírveme así. No me reduzcas a un número o una historia clínica y no te limites a una relación puramente funcional.
-
Conserva limpios tu corazón y profesión; no permitas que la ambición y la sed del dinero los manche.
-
Preocúpate por mi pronta y buena atención, no olvides que he venido a CE CAMILO con la esperanza de salir rehabilitado.
-
Comparte mis angustias y sufrimientos: aunque no puedas quitarme el dolor, acompáñame. Me hace falta tu gesto humano y gratuito que me hace sentir alguien y no algo, o un caso interesante.
Saint Camillus de Lellis
And when you have done everything
what you have to do…
When you have been everything
that you must be…
When you have not stopped at any annoying and disgusting task…
Don’t forget to thank me…
For allowing you to work helping others.
Our Logo
The CE CAMILO logo is inspired by the words of our patron Saint Camillus: “more heart in these hands, brother.”
Red is the color of love, the hands are transparent because their function is honest work, the other colors symbolize the diversity and joy that we find when we join forces to put more heart into our work.
Mission
We are a foundation where we work with care and professionalism to provide a comprehensive service of excellent quality to people with disabilities so that they can improve their quality of life and achieve social inclusion.
Vision
In 2030, CE CAMILO is a sustainable foundation, recognized at regional and national levels for the quality and ethical and innovative nature of its services and its contributions to public disability policy.
We provide accredited services and are distributors for national and international companies for wheelchairs, technical aids and communication aids.
In the Caribbean region, we lead projects in Alternative and Augmentative Communication, Community-Based Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Care for children with moderate, severe or multiple disabilities, Education for Work and productive projects for young people with disabilities and Training for caregivers.
Our Orthopedic Workshop stands out for the level of satisfaction of its users and the combination of high technology with a vocation for service and excellent prices.
We have an impact on the training of professionals who care for people with disabilities through internships, research projects and continuing education in partnership with universities, Colciencias, and international cooperation.
We achieve sustainable development through agreements with state entities and non-governmental organizations, the sale of products and services to individuals and companies, and optimal use of resources, including renewable energy.
Values
Comprehensive Vision.
Willingness to Change and Grow.
Commitment.
Creativity.
Vocation of Service.
Meet our team
Coordinating Committee
Interdisciplinary Team
We have an interdisciplinary team of 90 people in the areas of education, rehabilitation and orthopedic workshop, social work, psychology, nutrition, administration, general services and kitchen.
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors is made up of the president Maria Poulisse, the treasurer Maribel Romero Pérez, the secretary Brenda Borge Carrillo and the members Gustavo Bell Lemus, Luís Camilo Palacios Zarate, Carmen Martín Bacci and Luís Posso Benítez.
They are all volunteers.
Volunteering
CE CAMILO has a volunteer group, led by Beatriz Toro and Brenda Borge, who organize fundraising activities and establish contacts with donors.
Our Headquarters
Between 1998 and 2013 we have built and expanded our headquarters with donations from international cooperation and the private sector. In 21 stages we built therapy rooms, consulting rooms, classrooms, vocational workshops, service and recreation areas and an orthotics and prosthetics workshop to meet the growing demand for our services.
We now have a space of 4,404 m2, divided into a 3,795 m2 building, a 360 m2 parking lot and a 249 m2 lot. The entire building is accessible for wheelchair users except for the third floor, which does not have a ramp.
Financing of Services
The main sources of income to finance the operating costs of services for the disabled population are contribution contracts and sales of services with the ICBF, the Government of Atlántico, the Mayor's Office of Barranquilla, health entities and contributions from some users and the management of donations.
CE CAMILO is currently able to generate a large part of the income it needs to operate, but we still need donations. The graphs show the development of funding.
Development Goals
Sustainable - SDG
All CE CAMILO activities contribute in one way or another to the United Nations Millennium Goals.
Our Allies
True to our motto “Together we are capable” we have sought and found many valuable allies:
Our donors State entities such as the ICBF, the Mayor's Office and the Governor's Office.
National and international entities and organizations that work with the disabled population
Community organizations and sister projects of the Camilos in La Paz.
Non-Governmental Organizations and companies
Universities: More than 1,000 students have done their internship at CE CAMILO.
The media
