This morning we visited Aldeas Infantiles, an organization that assists abandoned, orphaned, or mistreated children. This organization bares some semblance to our foster care system, but on a much smaller scale. Children who are cared for by this organization are placed in families that all live together in the same community/compound. Each house has somewhere between 7 and 10 children who are cared for by a “mama” and a “tia” (aunt) who are hired to serve as the foster mothers to these 7-10 children. The women are almost always single and without children of their own (or have grown, independent children) and live almost entirely in this community. I found it amazing that these women dedicated their lives to raising these children, with very little compensation.
In the center we visited there were two close communities that each had 12 houses. The houses were very well maintained and the mini-communities were complete with recreation areas and gardens. One of the projects they had going on was a greenhouse where they grew and distributed lettuce to local grocery stores to help generate funding for their organization. The children were extremely friendly, and were excited to entertain their American visitors. I was greeted by several little handshakes, kisses, and hugs. Each of us was able to go to a separate house to interact with the children and talk with the house mother about the organization and their experiences. The woman who I spoke with has been working for Aldeas Infantiles since it was founded over 30 years ago. She has served as a foster mother for countless children, all of whom she remains in touch with. She also proudly told me she now has 8 grandchildren. The children she has fostered have become everything from doctors, stay at home mothers, nurses, engineers, etc. and I could tell she had a true sense of maternal pride in each one of the children who lived with her.
As I was sitting at the table sharing a freshly squeezed limonada, her children were bouncing around and happily interjecting in our conversation. One of the young girls living with this woman was abandoned shortly after birth, so her only memory of a mother is this woman. The children are given various networks of support and opportunities, but the organization is funded entirely by private donations and sponsors and not the government.
In the center we visited there were two close communities that each had 12 houses. The houses were very well maintained and the mini-communities were complete with recreation areas and gardens. One of the projects they had going on was a greenhouse where they grew and distributed lettuce to local grocery stores to help generate funding for their organization. The children were extremely friendly, and were excited to entertain their American visitors. I was greeted by several little handshakes, kisses, and hugs. Each of us was able to go to a separate house to interact with the children and talk with the house mother about the organization and their experiences. The woman who I spoke with has been working for Aldeas Infantiles since it was founded over 30 years ago. She has served as a foster mother for countless children, all of whom she remains in touch with. She also proudly told me she now has 8 grandchildren. The children she has fostered have become everything from doctors, stay at home mothers, nurses, engineers, etc. and I could tell she had a true sense of maternal pride in each one of the children who lived with her.
As I was sitting at the table sharing a freshly squeezed limonada, her children were bouncing around and happily interjecting in our conversation. One of the young girls living with this woman was abandoned shortly after birth, so her only memory of a mother is this woman. The children are given various networks of support and opportunities, but the organization is funded entirely by private donations and sponsors and not the government.
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