Charitable Works > Buenos Aires Province – Exclusion and Abandonment > In Isidro Casanova

Dining Hall

“Colonia Mi Esperanza” Day Care Center

FEATURES:

The town of Isidro Casanova is located in Greater Buenos Aires, in the densely populated La Matanza District. Just a few meters away from Route 3 stands the 16-hectare (about 40 acres) Colonia “Mi Esperanza”.

This institution used to be a home for the children of lepers who were assisted at the General Rodriguez Lepers Hospital. It was managed by the Federación del Patronato de Enfermos de Lepra de la República Argentina – Consejo Federado Capital Federal (Argentine Lepers Foundation Federation – Buenos Aires Federate Council), and its working approach was “to keep in seclusion”, to “shut up” what society did not want to see. However, upon the arrival of the Felices los Niños Foundation on March 30^th 2000, Colonia “Mi Esperanza” became a home opened to assist the poorest of the poor, and the former model of exclusion was replaced by one of integration that favors restoring family and social bonds.

Mamá Adelina

Children attend school and then participate in various workshops on Crafts, Gardening and Vegetable Garden Tending at the Home. They also have recreational activities in charge of PE teachers.

Today Colonia “Mi Esperanza” provides assistance to children ranging from infants to 21 year olds, all of them referred by the courts from the city of Buenos Aires and Greater Buenos Aires.

The founder of Felices los Niños, Father Julio César Grassi, said his first mass as a priest at the Medalla Milagrosa Chapel on October 11^th 1987, after completing his studies at the seminar. Apart from the chapel inside the Colonia, the Foundation also has several homes - the María Auxiliadora Home for Girls, the San Juan Bosco Home for Children and Teenagers and the Mamá Adelina Home for Infants, inaugurated on September 2^nd 2002.

Dorm

Apart from these buildings, within the vast grounds of the Colonia “Mi Esperanza” there are several educational centers belonging to the Buenos Aires province such as the E.G.B. School N. 22, the School for Adults N. 733, the Kindergarten N. 930, and the Training Center where a Sewing Workshop is run. The San Francisco de Asís Foundation is also working on the site with a series of Sheltered Workshops providing job opportunities to disabled adults.

CONTACT:

Tel / Fax: (011) 4694-1603   From abroad: + 54 (11) 4694-1603
E-mail: miesperanza@feliceslosninos.org
Address: Moldes y Mi Esperanza - altura Ruta 3 Km 22,200 - (1765) Isidro Casanova - Buenos Aires - Argentina

Charitable Works which get food help from Felices los Niños Foundation

Villa Palito - Villa Puerta de Hierro Dining Halls

FEATURES:

Villa Palito

In the densely populated La Matanza District, in Greater Buenos Aires, three dining halls have been in operation since May 27^th 2002, under the sponsorship of the Felices los Niños Foundation.

The dining halls run by Father Basilio "Bachi" Britez of the San Roque González Parish are located in the town of Isidro Casanova. His daily task to palliate the hunger of the crowded surroundings is acknowledged by all the neighbors and beneficiaries.

The Virgen de Guadalupe dining hall, at Villa Palito in the Almafuerte Settlement, provides daily assistance to 500 persons who are given lunch and afternoon snack. It is attended by children and elderly people, nursing mothers and pregnant women. It is run at the San Roque González Parish Church.

Nearby is the Villa Puerta de Hierro dining hall, where every day 200 destitute persons are given lunch and afternoon tea. It is run at the Madre del Pueblo Chapel.

CONTACT:

Tel / Fax: (011) 4691-0359   From abroad: + 54 (11) 4691-0359
Address: Pquia. San Roque Gonzalez, Calle 25 de Mayo Barrio Almafuerte, (1765) San Justo, Pdo. de La Matanza – Buenos Aires - Argentina.

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