Colombian children and families have begun to benefit from an ECLOF loan to the Disciples of Christ Christian Church in Santafe de Bogota.

Faced with increased demand for childcare, family counselling and small conference facilities, as well as the need for a church building in which to hold worship services, the Disciples of Christ applied to ECLOF for credit to help establish a community service centre.

The 84-member congregation had already purchased buildings alongside the existing church and is now using its US$13,630 ECLOF loan to pay for the renovation of these premises.

The first phase of the child care project, plus the family counselling service and con-ference facilities, came on stream in early 1998. The second phase of the childcare facility is scheduled for this year and will cater for children with learn-ing and speech problems. The total cost of the expansion scheme is just over US$47,000.