CHILDREN PROGRAMME
Different Activities for Children

During the past weeks, other activities were added to the regular Children Program, highlighting the recreational and educative aspects. The activities, which were aimed mainly to children at risk and underprivileged of the district, started with the arrival of a group of French volunteers.

The workshops, for children from 7 to 14 years old, took place at Don Bosco School and at Del Valle’s Comprehensive Development Centre, and they discussed issues as world cultures, getting to know France, journalism and air. They also joined children with special needs of Puerta del Sol Institute, José C. Paz, in their integrative outings and classes at the General Sarmiento National University.

Winter Holiday Camp started on July 30th. From Monday to Thursday, team games (as bowling, aiming or mini-golf, bracelet’s workshops, handmade boomerangs and board games, like jigsaws and memory games) were organized. When the day was over, they had some hot chocolate with cereals and bread and marmalade. Besides, more than fifty children from 9 to 13 years old went to the zoo. They walked through the park, enjoyed the aquarium, saw sharks, tigers and learned about them.

Children’s Day was also celebrated. First, 150 kids watched a movie. They could also paint their faces with artistic makeup and finished the day with a musical bingo, which offered a large amount of prices. Due to the many events organized within the framework of the electoral campaign, it was postponed a week after the official date.

These activities join others that the Children Program constantly organizes, like Game Sections three times a week, nutritional control, Workshops for children and mothers with Low Weight, and psychological, psycho-pedagogical and speech therapy care. They are all complementary and seek a comprehensive outlook of children, working as primary prevention factors.

INTERVIEW WITH CLEMENT Y OPHELIE
"We feel like a part of EnAcción already"

On 2004, a group of French youths came to visit Argentina and got in touch with EnAcción to be involved in some humanitarian activities. On their return to France they started up Horizon Argentine, a foundation that Works for the children of Los Polvorines, and from which Clement and Ophelie are volunteers. This year, from July 30 and until August 17 they joined some EnAcción activities and they carried out workshops in educational centers.

Clement is 21 years old and is studying Industrial Engineering. It’s the first time he is a part of the Project. He came to Argentina two months in advance to be involved in the organization. “I didn’t think much over where I was going – he recalls-, almost suddenly Argentina aroused. In my school we have four months to have an experience, to take part in some project, to know ourselves and to know other people and cultures. I didn’t want to go to a Foundation to build houses or to plant trees. Here, through the activities I got to know the neighbors much better, and also people from EnAcción and my volunteer friends”.

Ophelie, 25 years old, is one of the founders of Horizon Argentine, and it’s his third year here: “It’s an intense experience for the volunteers, and it’s good that it is so, it’s good for the children and also for us. You return with a different way of thinking. Ophelie studied “Project Evaluation for emerging countries”. I wanted to do something related to my education: “EnAcción is less rigid than the big organizations, and has a strong impact in the community”.

They both agree it’s impossible to describe the Argentinean people, because they are so different from each other: “There is an Argentinean from Buenos Aires, one from Los Polvorines, one from Salta, other from Ushuaia... Thinking of Los Polvorines, we are able to see more solidarity, and once they trust you, they really do. In France, people are more individualistic, it’s difficult to be trusted. The bond that we built with the children and with EnAcción is really strong, and allows us to continue working despite the obstacles”.

“We feel a part of EnAcción already; the bond is strong and gives our actions a bigger impact. Once we are more involved with the place, new possibilities and ideas start to arise. We didn’t want to organize the workshops and nothing else. That’s why, as we saw that many of the children quit school at 16 because of the lack of means, we started to help with scholarships. We organize a marathon each year to raise funds”.

“Perseverance also gives more value to the actions. The children remember us and they ask if we are coming back. The relationship of EnAcción with the neighborhood is also important, as they know EnAcción is here to help, they see it as a part of the neighborhood. The neighbors are involved: EnAcción proposes activities and the people make them their own, they commit with the life of the institution”.

“We want to thank the help they gave us; the joint work is indispensable for Horizon Argentine. Our wish is to come back. Keep on working, and that the exchange gains each time more strength and even to make possible a Exchange in a different way, to make it a real exchange, it would be important to think about it”.

News in pictures

ADULTS-FAMILIES PROGRAMME: Games to strengthen the group; third age health talks; addictions and family communication in Social Promotion. +pictures

YOUTH PROGRAMME: New classes of salsa and tango; sound course in Music Workshop; young people to the Luna Park. +pictures

CHILDREN PROGRAMME: Reopening of Games Section; pudding at Nutrition Workshop. +pictures