Child sponsorship update from Quilpué, Chile

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Quilpué, Chile from Winter 2007/2008.

Dear sponsors and friends,

In a few more weeks the year 2007 will come to its end and as usual we want to tell you about what has happened at our Quilpué SOS Village during this year.

At present 143 children and youngsters are living at the 16 family homes inside the Village and 24 youngsters at the youth facilities, amongst them a few in the program we call ‘preparation for independent life’. That means that the Village finances their needs, rent, food, clothing, studies, medical attention etc., but that they have to learn how to manage their budget on their own, under the supervision of their SOS mothers and the Village director. Generally they are young adults about to finish their professional studies and this way they are well prepared for starting their independent lives.

During this year we received 11 children, between 3 and 9 years old, who adapted quickly to their new life. They were received by their SOS families with love and tenderness. For such a special occasion the living room is decorated with globes, on that day there is a special meal and the children find a new toy upon their beds. This way they feel beloved and welcome from the start, get over their shyness or anguish and most of them fit well into this new family life, leaving behind negligence, mistreatment or abandon. But at the same time a process of adaptation is necessary and many need the professional help of a psychologist in addition to the love of their SOS mothers. 19 children and youngsters left our Village for different reasons -some could return to their biological families who in the meantime had been able to better their situation, one was adopted by his baptism godfather and others finished their studies or professional training and could start to live on their own.

Events at Quilpué, Chile

At the beginning of the year, during summer vacations, all the SOS mothers went on a trip with their children to places where they could bath, go on excursions and relax. Most of them made good use of the campsite on the beach close to the Village, some families wanted to get to know other beaches and traveled farther to the South.

Our folklore group, that is famous for its dances from the Easter Island, lived a great adventure. They were invited to a folklore festival that was organized by the Arica SOS Village and financed by the government. It took place in the town theatre of Arica, in front of a very enthusiastic audience and was a big succeed. As the trip was a very long one, over 2000 Kms, the friends from Arica took our youngsters on a tour through the desert which was completely unknown to them, they went with them to the beaches that are much warmer than the ones of our zone and visited the museum of the ‘Chinchorro’ culture, where the oldest mummies of the world, from 5000 years B.C., can be seen.

This dancing group performs several times per year at events of the city of Quilpué. Only in November we had a show at the municipal sports center. It was a very big show with artists and other famous persons, in order to help the ‘Teletón’, a campaign in the whole country, that takes place once a year, for collecting funds for the treatment of handicapped children and youngsters of Chile. Those treatments are long and costly. Our children and youngsters always participate and in some cases even give their meager monthly pocket-money.

We also celebrated very important holidays, as are the International SOS Village's Day in June and the National Holidays in September. Our children just love them and all the community joins in the typical meals, dances and games. Every birthday is an important event. It is celebrated with the whole family and lately the biological family is invited, too, if it is possible. It is important to keep this contact and the children feel quite happy with their ‘two families’.

In August we organised a special lunch for collecting funds, inviting authorities, the children's teachers, friends and collaborators. This event is already well-known in our city and the guests - besides spending a nice afternoon - get to know the Village and share with our children - helping us with their contribution.

Children studing for an independent future in Chile

Our mothers get training constantly at special courses, at the school for SOS mothers as well as at external courses and with self studies. Four of them received a university diploma in the social area, after several months of classes. In spite of all the work and the constant worries a big family of 8 or 9 children means, they always try hard learning more and to be able to attend and understand better the children they are in charge of, to be able to attend their problems and to help solving them. One really must have an enormous vocation for this task.

The children go on with their activities in their spare time, some prefer them artistic, the others sport, specially soccer. Some boys play at the city's clubs.

The older ones look for part-time jobs in supermarkets or stores. They don't earn much, but it is a help for their personal expenses, anyhow, sometimes for school utensils, and we always advise them to save some.

Many of our children and youngsters need educational support and we are lucky enough that a group of university students from one of the most prestigious universities of Valparaíso (the next bigger town) teach our children for free. This is a very valuable help, and thanks to it, many children were able to overcome their difficulties in that subject. More difficult cases besides received help from a psycho-educational.

Now in December, the school term comes to its end. Most of our children attend elementary school, many of the older ones are at technical high schools and some are already studying at a professional institute. Two youngster, the twins Daniela and Gisela finished high school and gave their ‘PSU test’ (Admission exams for entering university). They want to study something related with social service. The results will be known by end of December and we do hope they will be able to fulfill their dream. If they are not accepted at university, they may study at an institute.

Michael and Francisco finished their studies and received their diploma, Michael as an engineer at Santa Maria University and Francisco as a computer technician. They are postulating for a job, but this always takes some time. It is not easy for young people to find jobs.

Summer has arrived and we prepare for Christmas. This must sound strange to you, who live in the Northern Hemisphere. But we are used to celebrate this important holiday with sun and heat. We also decorate our Christmas trees, even though they are artificial ones, and have them with a crib at our homes and the children expect their presents on the 24th of December with joy.

We thank you with all our hearts for your valuable help for all the children and youngsters of our Quilpué SOS Village and wish you a Merry Christmas and the very best for 2008.

Julio González
Director Quilpué SOS Village