Temporary Home for Children in Argentina

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.

The company “La serenísima” came to “Hogares Malen” to give a workshop based on the importance of healthy eating, they did emphasis about the food that must be balanced and should not be based sweets.

They talked about all the meals and the "teachers" from the company asked the girls what they eat and what they believed it was healthy.

There was a time when one of the "teachers" disguised himself as a child going to school and forgot to eat his breakfast, so his dad told him that he dosn´t have to forget that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

All children participated in the workshop from the little ones (Rucamalen) to the oldest (cer). And everyone learned something. Most of the issues they already knew it but it was good to highlight them. For example that you need to drink eight glasses of water per day.

They played games in which they had to choose which food was healthy and wich one wasn´t. They also had to prepare a menu for the four meals.

At the end they gave them a couple of posters with the food pyramid where they could see what they need to eat more often (as flour, fruits and vegetables) and what they don´t have to eat as much (like sweets). They also gave them notebooks with activities to remember what they have learned.

It was a very nice and interactive activity where everyone learnt and had fun.

Links:

• Serenisima va a la escuela