Talita Cumi (Bolivia)

Welcome to Talita Cumi

"Child, I say to you, arise!"

Become a Sponsor

You can build a relationship with a child even from afar. Consider sponsoring a child!

Donate to the Home

We are currently raising funds for a new home, a forever home for many of our growing children.

Become a Volunteer

Learn about our volunteer programs and how you can make an impact in a child’s life.

Help Us Build Our Children's Dream Home

Located in Cochabamba, Bolivia, Talita Cumi is a home equipped to house orphaned, abused, and abandoned children ages 0-15 years old.

Share our GoFundMe

GoFundMe is an easy way to show your support for Talita Cumi by sharing the link on any of your socials, email, or via text. Give it a try!

See the Floor Plan

We are so excited to share with you the dream home our kids at Talita Cumi deserve. From a playground and pool, to a garden and customized dining hall with their best interests in mind. 

What does Talita Cumi mean?

About Us

Talita Cumi began as a ministry from the work Shelly Castro and her friend initiated in the city center of Cochabamba, Bolivia, where they provided care for drug-addicted individuals by tending to their wounds and sharing the life-saving message of the Gospel. During this time, Shelly felt a calling from God to open a children’s home specifically to serve abused, abandoned, and orphaned children. Witnessing the suffering of children whose parents, often struggling with addiction, were unwilling to change, Shelly, alongside her husband, Gabo Castro, founded Talita Cumi as a refuge where these children could receive protection, care, and the opportunity to know Jesus.

The name Talita Cumi is inspired by the story in Mark 5:

‘But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.’

After years of preparation, including paperwork, meetings, and fundraising, Talita Cumi welcomed its first child in 2016. Over the years, we have grown in knowledge and experience, striving to provide care with efficiency, compassion, and purpose. Guided by faith, we continually seek to improve our processes, recognizing that challenges are part of the journey. We have witnessed numerous reunifications, adoptions, and transformations that have shaped Talita Cumi into what it is today. We are grateful for the Lord’s grace and faithfulness toward this ministry.

Today, Talita Cumi provides care for up to 25 children, from newborns to 14 years old, who have faced abandonment, neglect, or abuse. Our dedicated social work team, with the Lord’s guidance, works tirelessly to facilitate adoptions and support reunification efforts with biological families when possible. For those children still in our care, we continue to pray and trust in the Lord’s plan for their futures, believing that every child deserves a loving, permanent home.