AP PHOTOS: Colombia quinceañeras see dreams come true with the support of many, including the police
AP PHOTOS: Colombia quinceañeras see dreams come true with the support of many, including the police
Quinceañeras ride in limousine as part of their celebration, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Quinceañeras ride in limousine as part of their celebration, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Quinceañeras ride in limousine as part of their celebration, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Quinceañeras wait outside a beauty salon where they will have their hair styled and makeup done for free, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Quinceañeras wait outside a beauty salon where they will have their hair styled and makeup done for free, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Quinceañera Helen Ibague poses for a stylist after having her makeup done for free, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Quinceañera Helen Ibague poses for a stylist after having her makeup done for free, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Quinceañera Sara Ariza adjusts her tiara as she waits to have her makeup done for free, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Quinceañera Sara Ariza adjusts her tiara as she waits to have her makeup done for free, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Quinceañeras ready for their celebration, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Quinceañeras ready for their celebration, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
A quinceañera prepares to get into a limousine to be driven to a quinceañera celebration, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
A quinceañera prepares to get into a limousine to be driven to a quinceañera celebration, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Quinceañeras ride in limousine as part of their celebration, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Quinceañeras ride in limousine as part of their celebration, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
A quinceañera is escorted by a police officer as part of her celebration, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
A quinceañera is escorted by a police officer as part of her celebration, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Relatives use their smart phone to record a group quinceañera celebration, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Relatives use their smart phone to record a group quinceañera celebration, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Police officers prepare to dance a waltz with their designated quinceañera at a group celebration, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Police officers prepare to dance a waltz with their designated quinceañera at a group celebration, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Quinceañera Maria Fernanda Castro, left, dances a waltz with a police officer at a group celebration, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Quinceañera Maria Fernanda Castro, left, dances a waltz with a police officer at a group celebration, in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 2, 2025. The Sueños Hechos Foundation, led by a former police officer, is hosting a quinceañera celebration on Friday for 24 disadvantaged teen girls. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Their dreams of celebrating their “quinceañeras” seemed unattainable. Then a foundation, with the support of the police and some private companies, made it come true.
Twenty-four teenagers in Bogota, Colombia on Friday celebrated their 15th birthday — a traditional rite of passage, particularly for girls, in parts of Latin America - as part of an initiative by a foundation called “Sueños Hechos,” or “Dreams come True.”
“I’m very happy, very nervous,” said Gabriela Moncada, who had wanted a party and to wear a jade-green ball gown, but her family didn’t have the means to afford it. Then she was selected by the foundation.
“It’s exactly how I dreamed it would be,” she said, smiling after having makeup applied by volunteer stylists.
The 24 girls came to Bogota from different places around Colombia’s capital.
They brought photographs of the hairstyles they wanted, and some got makeup for the first time in their lives. Then they were taken in limousines to a hall for the formal party, where police officers were waiting for them and raised their sabers to make a parade to honor them.
The foundation opened a call for applications, and about 100 people registered, and after a review they picked up 24.