Meet The Children
Learn More About Dear Future
Explore The Costumes
Start here!
SHOP
DONATE
Let us know what you thought! Click here to leave a review.
MARIA FERNANDA
Heart of Love
Heart of Love is the embodiment of affection and care. She spreads love, ensuring warmth and protection for all. Her special gift? Saving children and even her beloved Granny from harm, showering them with endless care.
Dear Future, it’s me, Lidio. I’m excited to meet you one day. I don’t know if you remember, but I love going for walks. I was very good at making paper airplanes. I’m brave when I play on the monkey bars. What I like most about myself is my hair. I love my Granny because she plays with me. I feel super happy when I ride the swing and play. In the future, I hope to have a family. I have a character that I love. His name is Boculaser, he comes from the forest and sends power to the trees. I want to be like him someday, in the future.
Hola, Dear Future. I don’t know if you remember but when I was little, I loved football, chicken, and cars. I was very good at cutting paper and painting. I’m brave when I face my fear. I love my Granny because she makes me laugh, and she helps me with reading and drawing. When I get older I hope to have a wife, a house, and a dog. In the future, I don’t want my juice to be stolen again! One word that describes me well is that I’m fast. I invented a character. He comes from the forest and knows how to shoot arrows and play. His name is Arrow Man, but my name is Emanuel.
These children are victims of abandonment, abuse, or neglect. Many of them have already experienced the trauma of being separated from their families, and are now finding themselves in a world where their most basic needs for love, security, and individualized attention go unmet.
The Realities Faced by Children in Institutionalized Care
Understanding the power of Dear Future as a movement requires grappling with the realities faced by close to eight million children living in orphanages around the world. No matter where they are, they arrived in their circumstances of living in orphanages not through their own decisions, but because of the choices made by the adults in their lives.
8 million children are living in orphanages around the world.
Hello, Future Me! It‘s me, Weimar! I really love riding a bike and skateboarding. I love my Granny because she wears a costume with me. She helps me with my homework. I’m brave when I eat healthy food. I really want to remember that I like Sebastian Yatra’s songs. When I grow older, I hope to have friends. In the future, I want the world to have more children. In the future, I never want to stop playing again. One day, I will write and I will work as a police officer. I hope that I give back by taking care of the planet. I‘m proud of myself because I’ll have a family and because I behave well when we go on road trips. I promise to never forget my Granny. When I close my eyes and imagine you, dear future, I can see that I’m going to be huge and I will help people. In the years ahead, I hope to learn how to swim. With love and hope, Me.
Witness the Granny Program's video, showcasing how dedicated Grannies provide the individualized care and attention that children in orphanages so desperately need.
The Creative Journey of Dear Future
Dear Future is more than an art exhibition. It is a movement that wishes to give children who are living difficult realities the space to dream. And it starts here, with the dreams of 10 children from Chiquitines Children’s Home in Cali, Colombia, together with their Granny caregivers.
The journey began with a series of workshops that led children and their Grannies in a co-creative process that intertwines phototherapy, costume design, and character investigation.
The Transformative Power of Dreaming
The act of envisioning oneself in another reality is not just imagination‘s indulgence, but a fundamental human experience that helps shape our identities and potential.
For the millions of children living in orphanages worldwide, life is often devoid of individuality and personhood. Harsh realities of abandonment, abuse, and neglect result in perpetual and unimaginable trauma. Even basic needs like consistent care and nurturing human interaction are luxuries. Without them, children face lifelong challenges–developmental delays, attachment insecurity, and dimmed hopes for the future.
Children build confidence and strong identities when they are given the space to dream, and encouragement from adults that their dreams are valid and worthy of being explored. To be denied that creative expression and space is to be stripped of vital part of one‘s humanity
And yet, every child yearns to dream.
3. Designing Masks and Costumes The children and their Grannies crafted elaborate masks and costumes that embodied their imagined characters. These creations became avatars, providing a protective layer while allowing them to step beyond their daily realities.
4. Investigating Characters Through play, storytelling, and taking photographs of what inspired them in their daily lives, the children delved deeper into their characters‘ origins, favorite activities, and superpowers – a process that fostered self-discovery and personal growth.
Hello, Future Me! It‘s me, Justin. I‘m so excited
to meet you one day! I don‘t know if you
remember, but I really love singing and
drawing. When I was little, I always played. I
was really good at singing. I love my Granny
because she’s funny. She helps me with my
homework. I really want to remember my
family. I’m brave when I go to the restroom.
When I grow older, I hope to have children
and a cell phone. In the future, I want a
happy world. In the future, I never want to
be here again. I hope to learn more about
nature. One day I will study and I will work
as a military officer. Sometimes, I get a little
scared when someone screams or scolds
me. Someone I will always love is Maria
Fernanda and my Granny, Sonia. I hope that
I give back by providing friendship and love.
I‘m proud of myself for being respectful,
intelligent, and loving. When I close my eyes
and imagine, I can see my two little brothers
with me. In the years ahead, I hope to have
a family and study.
JUSTIN
The Care King
The Care King, protector of nature, hails from space. With a heart for animals and a love for the environment, he leaps into action, ensuring nature thrives.
The ratio of caretakers to children in
most institutions is 1:25 and sometimes
up to 1:50, and turnover is high.
Deprived of consistent, nurturing care
that is essential for healthy growth,
these children often experience
developmental delays, emotional
trauma, and attachment disorders.
Even with consistent care, the
institutional setting cannot replicate
the family environment and parental
relationship, leaving children without
stable interaction with nurturing
caregivers, opportunities for individual
attention, and socialization with a
caring adult.
The ratio of
caretakers to
children in most
institutions
is 1:25 and
sometimes up
to 1:50.
Ancestral Colombian techniques are combined with modern artistry, weaving a rich tapestry that celebrates heritage while elevating singular voices, too often silenced.
Dear Future gives vibrant expression to the hopes and resilience of the most vulnerable children. Though their circumstances may seem bleak, rays of light shine on the potential that blossoms when we truly see and nurture the dreams of every child.
By supporting initiatives like these, we can all help build a more just, empathetic world where every dream is given the chance to take flight. The transformation begins here.
EVELYN
Princess of Love
“The best thing that happened to me lately
was knowing that I will be leaving soon.”
Meet Princess of Love, guardian of children‘s dreams. Her special gift? Protecting kids from harm, and spreading love and kindness wherever she goes.
Not Enough Caregivers
In many cases, the very
institutions meant to
protect and support these
vulnerable children fall short
due to limited resources and
overburdened staff. Many
of the children live in unimaginable
conditions—sleeping on wet ground
with no outside enclosures, having
their diaper changed once in a 24-
hour window, not being regularly held
or hugged, and struggling to count to
five when they are in third grade. Basic
needs are a luxury.
The act of envisioning oneself in another reality is not just imagination‘s indulgence, but a fundamental human experience that helps shape our identities and potential.
Together, these children and their Grannies are guided through an extraordinary co-creative process with artists and designers, where their visions are transmuted into physical form.
Dear Future is a defiance against that deprivation. This mixed-media exhibition allows the unbridled dreams of institutionalized children in Cali, Colombia to transcend their circumstances through a powerful alchemy of creativity and the presence of their “Granny” caregivers, who are part of the Granny Program - a global initiative to support children living in institutionalized care through consistent, one-on-one care and attention from a loving adult.
As you wander amid the exhibit space, you‘ll witness these children‘s innermost hopes springing to life. Regal, hand- crafted costumes adorned with Colombian folkloric patterns become avatars for their imagined future selves.
THE GRANNY PROGRAM
The need for the Granny Program has never been more urgent. With countless children still waiting to experience a Granny's love, we must come together as a global community to scale up this life-changing initiative and ensure that every child, no matter their background, can grow, heal, and dream without limits.
Nurturing Dreams, Transforming Lives
Trained in child development and trauma-informed care, these extraordinary individuals provide the one-on-one attention and unwavering support that is so critical for a child's growth and well-being. The children are dependent on their daily love and nurture. Grannies also receive benefits from the program, finding renewed purpose and fulfillment in their roles, and knowing that their love and dedication are shaping lives and their communities.
At the heart of the Granny Program are the Grannies themselves: compassionate women from local communities who dedicate their time and hearts to care for these children.
Hello, Future Me! It’s me, Ana Camila. I‘m so excited to meet you one day! I don‘t know if you remember, but I really love visiting places and going to the movies. I was really good at adding. I love my Granny because she’s pretty. She helps me with my studies. I’m brave when I get a shot and what I like most about myself is my heart. When I grow older, I hope to have children. In the future, I want everyone to feel better. In the future, I never want fries and sausages again. I hope to learn more about reading. One day I will be a doctor. Someone I will always love is Carolina, Viviana, Jazmin, and Maria Elena. I hope that I give back by giving thanks. I‘m proud of myself for being such a good student and doing homework. I promise to never forget my Granny, Carolina. When I close my eyes and imagine you, dear future, I can see a flower. In the years ahead, I hope to have a home. I will keep all these memories and dreams close to my heart, and I can‘t wait to read this letter again when I‘m older.
Hola, Dear Future. It’s me, Evelyn. I’m so excited to meet you one day. When I was little, I always liked to listen to the voice of the river. I love my Granny because she makes me laugh. She helps me write letters. I’m brave. I can laugh so that the sadness disappears. I’m going to work, taking care of children in a foundation. I hope to give back by doing the right thing for children and adults. In the future, I never want to be beaten up again. I’m proud of myself for being very intelligent and well-behaved. If I had a magic wand I would use it to make a house and a rabbit appear. I made a costume. I called her, The Princess of Love. She helps children and takes care of them. I want to be her one day.
The challenging realities faced by children in institutionalized care underscore the urgent need for transformative interventions and support systems. This is where initiatives like the Granny Program offer a beacon of hope amidst the challenges. By providing individualized attention, love, and support, Spence-Chapin's Granny Program helps children heal, grow, and reclaim their inherent dignity and potential. They recognize that every child deserves a chance to thrive, to be loved, and to have their dreams nurtured.
The need for the
Granny Program
has never been
more urgent.
Let us unite in our
commitment to protect
and nourish the boundless
potential within each child,
one Granny at a time.
Will you join us in this journey
of hope and empowerment?
Your support is the key to
unlocking a brighter tomorrow
for countless children who
yearn for nothing more than
the warmth of a Granny's
embrace. Together, we can
make a difference that echoes
through generations.
Sponsor a Granny
Hola, Dear Future. It’s me, Adriana. I’m happy to meet you one day. I love to play, dance, and walk. When I was little, I was always breastfed. In the future, I never want time to go by again. Someone I love is my Granny Viviana. I love my Granny because she loves me. She helps me with my homework. When I’m older I hope to have animals and work as an animal doctor. One word that describes me well is “dancer”. What I like most about myself is that I sing. If I could carry something with me everywhere, it would be a suitcase. When I close my eyes and imagine you, dear future, I can see myself being happy. I made a costume, she has a name: The Savior Princess. She has powers -to save children so that they can be happy. I hope I do the same too.
THE GRANNY PROGRAM
Nurturing Dreams, Transforming Lives
Woven through the fabric
of
Dear Future
is the
transformative work of
Spence-Chapin’s Granny
Program–a vital lifeline of
loving Granny caregivers who
support vulnerable children
living in institutionalized care.
For every three months spent
in an orphanage without
proper intervention, studies
show a child will lose one
month of critical growth.
The Grannies become that
imperative intervention,
offering steady attachment,
trust, and the
foundation
for children to
thrive.
EMANUEL
Arrow Man
Meet Arrow Man, the whimsical hero from the forest. With his trusty arrows and rockets, he embarks on playful adventures, spreading joy and laughter wherever he goes.
WEIMAR
Blaze
Blaze the hero hails from Colombia. His superpower?Selflessness. He serves humanity, transcending borders and spreading kindness to all.
LIDIO
Boculaser
Introducing Boculaser, the Forest Superhero. He flies through trees, zapping evil with his laser powers. Who wouldn‘t want to zoom through the treetops like him?
ANA CAMILA
Miracle Woman
Miracle Woman brings speed and flight to her adventures. Fast and fearless, she's the epitome of unstoppable strength.
Siya Madikane, a global philanthropist who has been instrumental in expanding the Granny Program around the world, was born in South Africa and grew up in an orphanage there before being adopted at the age of 13.
Hola, Dear Future. It’s me, Maria Fernanda. I don’t know if you remember, but when I was little, I always liked going to the movies. I was very good at adding and studying. In the future, I want the world to be a home. In the future, I never want to cry again. I love my Granny because she is loving. She helps me when I take photos. The house of my dreams would have a tree next to it and a happy family. What I like most about nature are the trees, the clouds, and the sun. I invented a character, she likes to save children, my Granny and everyone. I call her Heart of Love.
Hello, Future Me! It’s me, Sofia. I‘m so excited to meet you one day! I really love painting, drawing, putting makeup on my friends, and doing my friends’ nails. When I was little, I always threw tantrums when I was upset with my mom. I was really good at doing nails and writing well. I love my Granny because she helps me. When I grow older, I hope to have siblings and a mom. In the future, I want the world to be happy. In the future, I never want to be alone again. I hope that I give back by giving things away around the world. I‘m proud of myself forbeing pretty and happy. I promise to never forget my Granny and Sebastian. When I close my eyes and imagine you, dear future, I can see pretty gymnasts. I will keep all these memories and dreams close to my heart, and I can‘t wait to read this letter again when I‘m older.
ESNEIDER
Spiderman
Spiderman swings into action, striving to save people, to resure his friends and loved ones in need.
Felipe Ginebra, Dear Future's Colombia-based costume designer, speaks about the creative process.
SOFIA
Woman of Wonder Princess
Behold Woman of Wonder Princess, hailing from beneath the waves. With wings to fly and a love for soaring high, she‘s every child‘s dream of freedom personified.
Hello, Future Me! It‘s me, Esneider. I really love baking and cooking. When I was little, I always loved playing with my friends, pretending to be a baker, and making cheese bread. I love my Granny because she plays hide and seek with me. She helps me with my homework. I really want to remember that she takes me to the swing and teaches me. I hope to have children and a family. When I close my eyes and imagine, I see a home. In the future, I never want Justin to hit me again. Sometimes, I get a little scared of the dark. I hope to learn more about my Granny, to read, and write. One day I will cook and I'll work as a chef. Someone I will always love is my Granny and Martica, the teacher. I hope that I give back by helping people. The best thing that happened to me lately: eating marzipan! When I close my eyes and imagine you, dear future, I can see the people who have helped me, my teachers, and my Granny. With love and hope, Me.
ADRIANA
The Savior Princess
The Savior Princess emerges
from a place she calls the
Garden of Flowers. The Savior
Princess is a protector of
children‘s laughter and joy.
Her mission? Saving kids and
ensuring their happiness blooms forever.
1. Writing Letters to Their Future Selves The children poured their hopes, fears, and aspirations into heartfelt letters, guided by their loving Grannies.
2. Creating Future Self Characters Through imaginative exercises, each child, supported by their Granny, conceived a unique character representing their desired future self, imbued with special abilities and strengths.
For every three months spent in an orphanage without proper intervention, studies show a child will lose one month of critical growth.
Currently operating in Colombia, Ghana, and South Africa, the program has demonstrated remarkable impact on the 500 lives it touches–nurturing once- withdrawn children into emotionally engaged young ones who are reaching their developmental milestones and raising their arms in joy at the sight of their Grannies’ arrival.
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Transcript
Meet The Children
Learn More About Dear Future
Explore The Costumes
Start here!
SHOP
DONATE
Let us know what you thought! Click here to leave a review.
MARIA FERNANDA
Heart of Love
Heart of Love is the embodiment of affection and care. She spreads love, ensuring warmth and protection for all. Her special gift? Saving children and even her beloved Granny from harm, showering them with endless care.
Dear Future, it’s me, Lidio. I’m excited to meet you one day. I don’t know if you remember, but I love going for walks. I was very good at making paper airplanes. I’m brave when I play on the monkey bars. What I like most about myself is my hair. I love my Granny because she plays with me. I feel super happy when I ride the swing and play. In the future, I hope to have a family. I have a character that I love. His name is Boculaser, he comes from the forest and sends power to the trees. I want to be like him someday, in the future.
Hola, Dear Future. I don’t know if you remember but when I was little, I loved football, chicken, and cars. I was very good at cutting paper and painting. I’m brave when I face my fear. I love my Granny because she makes me laugh, and she helps me with reading and drawing. When I get older I hope to have a wife, a house, and a dog. In the future, I don’t want my juice to be stolen again! One word that describes me well is that I’m fast. I invented a character. He comes from the forest and knows how to shoot arrows and play. His name is Arrow Man, but my name is Emanuel.
These children are victims of abandonment, abuse, or neglect. Many of them have already experienced the trauma of being separated from their families, and are now finding themselves in a world where their most basic needs for love, security, and individualized attention go unmet.
The Realities Faced by Children in Institutionalized Care
Understanding the power of Dear Future as a movement requires grappling with the realities faced by close to eight million children living in orphanages around the world. No matter where they are, they arrived in their circumstances of living in orphanages not through their own decisions, but because of the choices made by the adults in their lives.
8 million children are living in orphanages around the world.
Hello, Future Me! It‘s me, Weimar! I really love riding a bike and skateboarding. I love my Granny because she wears a costume with me. She helps me with my homework. I’m brave when I eat healthy food. I really want to remember that I like Sebastian Yatra’s songs. When I grow older, I hope to have friends. In the future, I want the world to have more children. In the future, I never want to stop playing again. One day, I will write and I will work as a police officer. I hope that I give back by taking care of the planet. I‘m proud of myself because I’ll have a family and because I behave well when we go on road trips. I promise to never forget my Granny. When I close my eyes and imagine you, dear future, I can see that I’m going to be huge and I will help people. In the years ahead, I hope to learn how to swim. With love and hope, Me.
Witness the Granny Program's video, showcasing how dedicated Grannies provide the individualized care and attention that children in orphanages so desperately need.
The Creative Journey of Dear Future
Dear Future is more than an art exhibition. It is a movement that wishes to give children who are living difficult realities the space to dream. And it starts here, with the dreams of 10 children from Chiquitines Children’s Home in Cali, Colombia, together with their Granny caregivers.
The journey began with a series of workshops that led children and their Grannies in a co-creative process that intertwines phototherapy, costume design, and character investigation.
The Transformative Power of Dreaming
The act of envisioning oneself in another reality is not just imagination‘s indulgence, but a fundamental human experience that helps shape our identities and potential.
For the millions of children living in orphanages worldwide, life is often devoid of individuality and personhood. Harsh realities of abandonment, abuse, and neglect result in perpetual and unimaginable trauma. Even basic needs like consistent care and nurturing human interaction are luxuries. Without them, children face lifelong challenges–developmental delays, attachment insecurity, and dimmed hopes for the future.
Children build confidence and strong identities when they are given the space to dream, and encouragement from adults that their dreams are valid and worthy of being explored. To be denied that creative expression and space is to be stripped of vital part of one‘s humanity
And yet, every child yearns to dream.
3. Designing Masks and Costumes The children and their Grannies crafted elaborate masks and costumes that embodied their imagined characters. These creations became avatars, providing a protective layer while allowing them to step beyond their daily realities.
4. Investigating Characters Through play, storytelling, and taking photographs of what inspired them in their daily lives, the children delved deeper into their characters‘ origins, favorite activities, and superpowers – a process that fostered self-discovery and personal growth.
Hello, Future Me! It‘s me, Justin. I‘m so excited to meet you one day! I don‘t know if you remember, but I really love singing and drawing. When I was little, I always played. I was really good at singing. I love my Granny because she’s funny. She helps me with my homework. I really want to remember my family. I’m brave when I go to the restroom. When I grow older, I hope to have children and a cell phone. In the future, I want a happy world. In the future, I never want to be here again. I hope to learn more about nature. One day I will study and I will work as a military officer. Sometimes, I get a little scared when someone screams or scolds me. Someone I will always love is Maria Fernanda and my Granny, Sonia. I hope that I give back by providing friendship and love. I‘m proud of myself for being respectful, intelligent, and loving. When I close my eyes and imagine, I can see my two little brothers with me. In the years ahead, I hope to have a family and study.
JUSTIN
The Care King
The Care King, protector of nature, hails from space. With a heart for animals and a love for the environment, he leaps into action, ensuring nature thrives.
The ratio of caretakers to children in most institutions is 1:25 and sometimes up to 1:50, and turnover is high. Deprived of consistent, nurturing care that is essential for healthy growth, these children often experience developmental delays, emotional trauma, and attachment disorders.
Even with consistent care, the institutional setting cannot replicate the family environment and parental relationship, leaving children without stable interaction with nurturing caregivers, opportunities for individual attention, and socialization with a caring adult.
The ratio of caretakers to children in most institutions is 1:25 and sometimes up to 1:50.
Ancestral Colombian techniques are combined with modern artistry, weaving a rich tapestry that celebrates heritage while elevating singular voices, too often silenced.
Dear Future gives vibrant expression to the hopes and resilience of the most vulnerable children. Though their circumstances may seem bleak, rays of light shine on the potential that blossoms when we truly see and nurture the dreams of every child.
By supporting initiatives like these, we can all help build a more just, empathetic world where every dream is given the chance to take flight. The transformation begins here.
EVELYN
Princess of Love
“The best thing that happened to me lately was knowing that I will be leaving soon.”
Meet Princess of Love, guardian of children‘s dreams. Her special gift? Protecting kids from harm, and spreading love and kindness wherever she goes.
Not Enough Caregivers
In many cases, the very institutions meant to protect and support these vulnerable children fall short due to limited resources and overburdened staff. Many of the children live in unimaginable conditions—sleeping on wet ground with no outside enclosures, having their diaper changed once in a 24- hour window, not being regularly held or hugged, and struggling to count to five when they are in third grade. Basic needs are a luxury.
The act of envisioning oneself in another reality is not just imagination‘s indulgence, but a fundamental human experience that helps shape our identities and potential.
Together, these children and their Grannies are guided through an extraordinary co-creative process with artists and designers, where their visions are transmuted into physical form.
Dear Future is a defiance against that deprivation. This mixed-media exhibition allows the unbridled dreams of institutionalized children in Cali, Colombia to transcend their circumstances through a powerful alchemy of creativity and the presence of their “Granny” caregivers, who are part of the Granny Program - a global initiative to support children living in institutionalized care through consistent, one-on-one care and attention from a loving adult.
As you wander amid the exhibit space, you‘ll witness these children‘s innermost hopes springing to life. Regal, hand- crafted costumes adorned with Colombian folkloric patterns become avatars for their imagined future selves.
THE GRANNY PROGRAM
The need for the Granny Program has never been more urgent. With countless children still waiting to experience a Granny's love, we must come together as a global community to scale up this life-changing initiative and ensure that every child, no matter their background, can grow, heal, and dream without limits.
Nurturing Dreams, Transforming Lives
Trained in child development and trauma-informed care, these extraordinary individuals provide the one-on-one attention and unwavering support that is so critical for a child's growth and well-being. The children are dependent on their daily love and nurture. Grannies also receive benefits from the program, finding renewed purpose and fulfillment in their roles, and knowing that their love and dedication are shaping lives and their communities.
At the heart of the Granny Program are the Grannies themselves: compassionate women from local communities who dedicate their time and hearts to care for these children.
Hello, Future Me! It’s me, Ana Camila. I‘m so excited to meet you one day! I don‘t know if you remember, but I really love visiting places and going to the movies. I was really good at adding. I love my Granny because she’s pretty. She helps me with my studies. I’m brave when I get a shot and what I like most about myself is my heart. When I grow older, I hope to have children. In the future, I want everyone to feel better. In the future, I never want fries and sausages again. I hope to learn more about reading. One day I will be a doctor. Someone I will always love is Carolina, Viviana, Jazmin, and Maria Elena. I hope that I give back by giving thanks. I‘m proud of myself for being such a good student and doing homework. I promise to never forget my Granny, Carolina. When I close my eyes and imagine you, dear future, I can see a flower. In the years ahead, I hope to have a home. I will keep all these memories and dreams close to my heart, and I can‘t wait to read this letter again when I‘m older.
Hola, Dear Future. It’s me, Evelyn. I’m so excited to meet you one day. When I was little, I always liked to listen to the voice of the river. I love my Granny because she makes me laugh. She helps me write letters. I’m brave. I can laugh so that the sadness disappears. I’m going to work, taking care of children in a foundation. I hope to give back by doing the right thing for children and adults. In the future, I never want to be beaten up again. I’m proud of myself for being very intelligent and well-behaved. If I had a magic wand I would use it to make a house and a rabbit appear. I made a costume. I called her, The Princess of Love. She helps children and takes care of them. I want to be her one day.
The challenging realities faced by children in institutionalized care underscore the urgent need for transformative interventions and support systems. This is where initiatives like the Granny Program offer a beacon of hope amidst the challenges. By providing individualized attention, love, and support, Spence-Chapin's Granny Program helps children heal, grow, and reclaim their inherent dignity and potential. They recognize that every child deserves a chance to thrive, to be loved, and to have their dreams nurtured.
The need for the Granny Program has never been more urgent.
Let us unite in our commitment to protect and nourish the boundless potential within each child, one Granny at a time.
Will you join us in this journey of hope and empowerment? Your support is the key to unlocking a brighter tomorrow for countless children who yearn for nothing more than the warmth of a Granny's embrace. Together, we can make a difference that echoes through generations.
Sponsor a Granny
Hola, Dear Future. It’s me, Adriana. I’m happy to meet you one day. I love to play, dance, and walk. When I was little, I was always breastfed. In the future, I never want time to go by again. Someone I love is my Granny Viviana. I love my Granny because she loves me. She helps me with my homework. When I’m older I hope to have animals and work as an animal doctor. One word that describes me well is “dancer”. What I like most about myself is that I sing. If I could carry something with me everywhere, it would be a suitcase. When I close my eyes and imagine you, dear future, I can see myself being happy. I made a costume, she has a name: The Savior Princess. She has powers -to save children so that they can be happy. I hope I do the same too.
THE GRANNY PROGRAM
Nurturing Dreams, Transforming Lives
Woven through the fabric of Dear Future is the transformative work of Spence-Chapin’s Granny Program–a vital lifeline of loving Granny caregivers who support vulnerable children living in institutionalized care. For every three months spent in an orphanage without proper intervention, studies show a child will lose one month of critical growth. The Grannies become that imperative intervention, offering steady attachment, trust, and the foundation for children to thrive.
EMANUEL
Arrow Man
Meet Arrow Man, the whimsical hero from the forest. With his trusty arrows and rockets, he embarks on playful adventures, spreading joy and laughter wherever he goes.
WEIMAR
Blaze
Blaze the hero hails from Colombia. His superpower?Selflessness. He serves humanity, transcending borders and spreading kindness to all.
LIDIO
Boculaser
Introducing Boculaser, the Forest Superhero. He flies through trees, zapping evil with his laser powers. Who wouldn‘t want to zoom through the treetops like him?
ANA CAMILA
Miracle Woman
Miracle Woman brings speed and flight to her adventures. Fast and fearless, she's the epitome of unstoppable strength.
Siya Madikane, a global philanthropist who has been instrumental in expanding the Granny Program around the world, was born in South Africa and grew up in an orphanage there before being adopted at the age of 13.
Hola, Dear Future. It’s me, Maria Fernanda. I don’t know if you remember, but when I was little, I always liked going to the movies. I was very good at adding and studying. In the future, I want the world to be a home. In the future, I never want to cry again. I love my Granny because she is loving. She helps me when I take photos. The house of my dreams would have a tree next to it and a happy family. What I like most about nature are the trees, the clouds, and the sun. I invented a character, she likes to save children, my Granny and everyone. I call her Heart of Love.
Hello, Future Me! It’s me, Sofia. I‘m so excited to meet you one day! I really love painting, drawing, putting makeup on my friends, and doing my friends’ nails. When I was little, I always threw tantrums when I was upset with my mom. I was really good at doing nails and writing well. I love my Granny because she helps me. When I grow older, I hope to have siblings and a mom. In the future, I want the world to be happy. In the future, I never want to be alone again. I hope that I give back by giving things away around the world. I‘m proud of myself forbeing pretty and happy. I promise to never forget my Granny and Sebastian. When I close my eyes and imagine you, dear future, I can see pretty gymnasts. I will keep all these memories and dreams close to my heart, and I can‘t wait to read this letter again when I‘m older.
ESNEIDER
Spiderman
Spiderman swings into action, striving to save people, to resure his friends and loved ones in need.
Felipe Ginebra, Dear Future's Colombia-based costume designer, speaks about the creative process.
SOFIA
Woman of Wonder Princess
Behold Woman of Wonder Princess, hailing from beneath the waves. With wings to fly and a love for soaring high, she‘s every child‘s dream of freedom personified.
Hello, Future Me! It‘s me, Esneider. I really love baking and cooking. When I was little, I always loved playing with my friends, pretending to be a baker, and making cheese bread. I love my Granny because she plays hide and seek with me. She helps me with my homework. I really want to remember that she takes me to the swing and teaches me. I hope to have children and a family. When I close my eyes and imagine, I see a home. In the future, I never want Justin to hit me again. Sometimes, I get a little scared of the dark. I hope to learn more about my Granny, to read, and write. One day I will cook and I'll work as a chef. Someone I will always love is my Granny and Martica, the teacher. I hope that I give back by helping people. The best thing that happened to me lately: eating marzipan! When I close my eyes and imagine you, dear future, I can see the people who have helped me, my teachers, and my Granny. With love and hope, Me.
ADRIANA
The Savior Princess
The Savior Princess emerges from a place she calls the Garden of Flowers. The Savior Princess is a protector of children‘s laughter and joy. Her mission? Saving kids and ensuring their happiness blooms forever.
1. Writing Letters to Their Future Selves The children poured their hopes, fears, and aspirations into heartfelt letters, guided by their loving Grannies.
2. Creating Future Self Characters Through imaginative exercises, each child, supported by their Granny, conceived a unique character representing their desired future self, imbued with special abilities and strengths.
For every three months spent in an orphanage without proper intervention, studies show a child will lose one month of critical growth.
Currently operating in Colombia, Ghana, and South Africa, the program has demonstrated remarkable impact on the 500 lives it touches–nurturing once- withdrawn children into emotionally engaged young ones who are reaching their developmental milestones and raising their arms in joy at the sight of their Grannies’ arrival.