In Bogotá, a mother and her three children gather a group of friends and volunteers to care for different populations in a state of abandonment, without discrimination

By Luz Marina Trujillo Vanegas

At Fundación El Combo, there is no distinction based on name, color, race, age, or gender. For this reason, it has four work divisions where they serve little children, adolescents, street dwellers, elderly people, sex workers, the LGBTIQ+ community, and abandoned animals.

Everyone should experience volunteering at least once in their lifetime. With this premise, El Combo was born —a social foundation by and for people who have been unable to raise their voices over time.

In the streets of Bogotá, thousands of stories are hidden, including those of hundreds of people and animals living in conditions of poverty, abandonment, discrimination, or abuse. Regardless of their gender, identity, age, or occupation, they require help and, in many cases, simply a glance.

Under the leadership of Janeth Molina, a mother keen to serve others, and together with her children—three young people who share the same disposition—one day, a combo of family friends was formed to give voice to those most in need.

Although the Molina family has volunteered with various populations for years, they encountered obstacles and delays in the help that hundreds of people required. Therefore, they decided to create El Combo Foundation, more than an organization, a support network.

At El Combo, there are no limits to help. The 4 founders each direct assistance to the different populations that require it. Janeth Molina leads efforts for the street-dwelling population and senior citizens. Fernanda Molina leads the work with children and adolescents with limited resources, Samuel Molina is in charge of the sex worker population and LGBTIQ+ community, and Samira Molina is responsible for the abandoned animal population.

Care for All, Without Stigmatization

Aiding different populations, El Combo Foundation seeks to destigmatize service. On many occasions, there is a mistaken belief that only certain population groups should receive help, or that certain people deserve help and others do not. At El Combo, assistance is provided to anyone who needs it, regardless of their condition, sexual orientation, or the reason they are in that state.

Through volunteer campaigns in different areas of the city, such as Ciudad Bolívar, Kennedy, Usme, and downtown Bogotá, El Combo distributes food, clothing, medicine, and even specific items needed by different groups (beds, blankets, etc.).

For the Foundation, there are many ways to get involved. In addition to financial contributions, which are very helpful, people can make in-kind donations, donate their time and energy during volunteer campaigns, or simply be advocates for the need that exists on the streets. At El Combo, being a support network is the priority.

“Our mission is to grow each day as a support network for all people who have lost their voice over time. We aim to convey the message throughout the country and beyond, where people recognize the needs that many Colombians face and join in the purpose of serving. From El Combo, we want to make visible those who, due to their condition, have been treated as if they were imperceptible,” said Samuel Molina, founder of El Combo.

The Foundation began with a group of 9 people, including its 4 founders. Today, more than 300 people are involved who have successfully managed biweekly volunteer campaigns. In some months, they have even managed to keep them weekly, allowing aid to increase and different population groups to feel truly accompanied.

By the end of the first half of 2025, the organization had supported over 2,100 beneficiaries and hopes to reach an increasing number of people through the construction and strengthening of its network.

“We wish that people could understand that even a glance is an act of service. There are many street dwellers or people in vulnerable situations who just want to receive a greeting to feel that they are alive; who, beyond money, seek someone to buy them medicine or food in places where they are not even allowed to enter; who, by not feeling ignored, understand that they are not invisible, that they are still part of society,” Molina emphasized.

The Molina family is united not only by blood but also by their passion for service. For this reason, they seek to carry a message that transcends, while El Combo grows larger.

How to help?

Learn more about Fundación El Combo at their social media profiles on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.