Temporary Home for Children in Argentina

Earlier on this year, Mensajeros de la Paz was published in the Argentinian news source La Nacion for our work with abused, neglected, and abandoned girls. Highlighted in this article is the home of Rucamalen, where girls between 15-17 years of age can participate in therapeutic, recreational and educational activities in groups as well as prepare for their lives as self-sufficient adults.

Featured in the article’s picture is Abigail Elezua, a seventeen year old Nigerian girl who first arrived in Rucamalen without any identity documents or spanish speaking skills. She finished her secondary schooling in Nigeria but because of a lack of documentation Abigail was setback in her education and required to retake lower levels. With determination and ambition Abigail pursues her dream of being a doctor. This year she began her career in university and now lives independently and uses the skills she learned at Rucamalen to make her way. “Here they wake you up to go to school, they wake you up to go to the doctors, and  they provide food. Now I have to start to manage myself,  but I think that I’m going to be able to do it.” It is this self-assurance and maturity Mensajeros de la Paz hopes to inspire in the girls who live in Permafemalen and Rucamalen.

The difficulties these children face stem from a general sense of abandonment and lack of role models. After being forcibly removed from their homes they must  endure everyday challenges by themselves. The state takes parental responsibility for these girls up until 18 years of age, and then they are on their own. Mensajeros de la Paz seeks to do more than just sustain these girls but also help them establish autonomy and prepare themselves for adulthood. Abigail is just one example of the many girls that your donations to Mensajeros de la Paz help support.

As director of Mensajeros de la Paz, Graciela Gilona, points out, “there are many programs that could sustain the girls for an amount of time with subsidies but what they need is real work.” He proposes that a sustainable way to help these girls is to teach them skills to obtain work and support themselves. In this way Mensajeros de la Paz is offering more than a short-term fix, but rather a lasting solution that will give these girls opportunities to establish their own lives.

Links:

• See the full news article here!

Dear friends,

A new school year has begun for our girls in Pewmafe Malen. Thanks to donations each girl got a new school kit, with paper blocks, pencils and a lot more.

As for some of the girls it is the first time they have the opportunity to go to school, there is always a great excitement in the first days and weeks. It is very important the girls receive education and we are glad they get the chance there in Longchamps. Five days a week they go to the village school, not that far from their home.

As classes normally start after lunch, there is often time for a workshop in the morning. There is for example a course to craft bracelets. And we are still working on the theater project “Super Arte”, which we have performed two times by now and will do so at least one more time. Besides, we do little challenges and games with the girls to stimulate their fitness and team spirit.

It makes us feel so happy to see the girls learn through school lessons and workshops. The donations form a great part to make all this possible.

Once again, thank you all for your support!

Links:

• Back to school