Sister Valerina Garcia Martin, originally from Seville, Spain, founded the orphanage Hogares Luz y Vida in 1991 with a 2-year-old child, her now adopted daughter, Valle Garcia Martin. One year later, she adopted a second daughter, 5-week-old Rosita Garcia Martin, In 1997, Colleen Morey, an educator from Fairfield, CT, met Sister and the then 40 children who lived in the orphanage, and fell with love… with all of them… and the Light and Life Foundation was born.

Today, the orphanage houses over 215 persons with physical and mental disabilities, ranging from newborns through young adults. Its adjunct farm 70 miles outside of Bogota houses another 55 orphaned young adults and produces 85% of the food needed at the orphanage. The elementary school provided instruction and three meals a day to the children who attend, which includes 200 from the local neighborhood barrio.