Temporary Home for Children in Argentina

Last Tuesday, February 14th, together with the fire department of Almirante Brown and Fundación Bomberos Voluntarios, we share a morning full of learning, new experiences and, above all, a lot of fun!

We arrived at the central department, where Soledad and Brian were waiting for the 40 children of Pewmafe Malen Home. The children arrived anxiously at the barracks and walked curious among the fire engines, entered the room where the team were waiting for them to start the activity "All in Alert" on risk prevention and environmental care.

Among games and activities, they delve into issues such as vehicular circulation, evacuation and risk prevention in the home. The fireman, brought his own structural, and the children had the chance to prove it.

Later, they knew the parts of the bus and learned what they are used for and how they are used, they walked the halls of the barracks and they arrived at the locker rooms, where they were the structural, autonomous and more teams! Then they went to the Emergency Room, and there, they sounded the firemen siren!!

After all this activities, the children are now the new and happy prevention agents! Thank´s to Fire department and Fundación Bomberos.

Links:

• Fundacion Bomberos

Dear friends,

The summer came to Buenos Aires and the sun shines all day, lighting up the days of people like ours and those of the girls in Hogares Malen. On Monday the 6th of February we, the volunteers of Mensajeros De La Paz, went to this place, prepared with colours, papers and some plants we found at the way. Our plan was to do something creative with them because it makes the girls happy, they realize that they have great ideas and they are able to create their own works independently.

Because it was very hot we asked them to meet us in the huge garden and we sat down in the shadow of the trees, talked a bit before we introduced what we want to do. With colours, flowers, plants and glue we made our own garden at papers and the girls really liked it because it became beautiful and we could sit outside, laughing together and sharing stories.

Sometimes it´s also difficult for us to treat with the girls because they are so lovely and friendly and the work with them is very great and touching but we always have to keep in mind that they all have a painful past with problems with their families like violence, sexual abuse and addiction to drugs. Therefore it is important to be careful in conversations but there are always enough beautiful things to talk about. Because of their personal problems we always should have a behaviour that keeps a bit the distance. That's not so easy for us but that's the thing about beeing a volunteer, we have so many things to learn and the girls also are teaching us to be strong, to keep on going with a smile and to work together. On the other hand, they are also receiving because we´re distracting them from their daily problems and their fears, we´re giving them the attention they maybe didn´t get at home, we´re supporting their creativity and making them laugh most of the time.

They were happy, we were happy!