Uploaded March 2024 | Updated September 2026, 23 minutes ago
In this video produced for us by BBC StoryWorks Father Gabriel Mejia shares how he established the first "Centro de Hogares Claret" in Medellín, Colombia, in 1984, providing a sanctuary for abandoned children. He integrated the Transcendental Meditation technique into his programs after encountering it during a visit to the United States and recognizing its potential to help abandoned and traumatized children.
As drug cartel influence waned and his initiatives gained recognition, the number of shelters he oversaw through Fundacion Hogares Claret grew to 52 by 2011, serving over 3,500 children across Colombia and Latin America. Father Mejia's centers have positively impacted tens of thousands of children, guiding them towards healthy and fulfilling lives.
In this video produced for us by BBC StoryWorks Father Gabriel Mejia shares how he established the first "Centro de Hogares Claret" in Medellín, Colombia, in 1984, providing a sanctuary for abandoned children. He integrated the Transcendental Meditation technique into his programs after encountering it during a visit to the United States and recognizing its potential to help abandoned and traumatized children.
As drug cartel influence waned and his initiatives gained recognition, the number of shelters he oversaw through Fundacion Hogares Claret grew to 52 by 2011, serving over 3,500 children across Colombia and Latin America. Father Mejia's centers have positively impacted tens of thousands of children, guiding them towards healthy and fulfilling lives.
