Temporary Home for Children in Argentina

The volunteers of “Mensajeros de la Paz” went to the children’s home located in Longchamps, Buenos Aires to collaborate with staff from Metrogas (www.metrogas.com.ar) to reform and paint the home. In that home children with social issues live for a period of time, while their families situations are trying to get solved.

We arrived there quite early in the morning to get ready for the activity, we were about 40 people. Before the volunteers arrived the children went out to do a little trip during the day. The director of the home made an introduction of the home and their project, moreover she gave us instructions for the different areas to scrap and paint:

- Fences

- Outside wall

- Bedrooms

We were divided in groups and each group was responsible for each different task. We were working for 3 hours and we had a break to rest, to drink some water and to eat some food, after that we continued with the work until the children came back to the home. It was a lot of work to do and we tried our best without having a lot of experience at painting.

Overall it was a great experience, because although it was challenging, it was rewarding because we could see our work made a difference in providing the children a better environment to live in.

Dear Friends

In this opportunity, we would like to share the progress in the enlargement work at Hogares Malen and the new project of Hogar Andalué. Children live in both places as a part of our Program for promotion and restitution of their rights. These children have been separated from their families after having suffered from domestic violence, sexual abuse, forced labor or unsafe living conditions.

At Hogar Pewmafe Malen - where young girls between 6 and 12 year use to live – a new bathroom has been built with three additional showers and a new bedroom. The new bathroom has been provided with a boiler for exclusive use of the girls in order to provide more comfortable services, especially in wintertime. In addition, building improvements have been done in the common areas.

Also we are proud to tell you that we are building a new space called Hogar Andalué, where little sisters and brothers (between 4 and 11 years) will be able to live together during their stay at Mensajeros de la Paz. Having a special place for them – where they can be together – is enormously necessary because it keeps the sense of the family despite being separated from their parents. The children receive psychological and medical assistance in an effort to help them recover emotionally and physically from prior abuses. Each of them is understood and supported by a team of professionals but also with the love and company of sisters and brothers.

With the help of your donations we are able to cover the basic needs to facilitate their social integration in a positive interaction with other children.