Sponsor's update from Madreselvas, Chile

Child sponsorship update from the SOS Children's Village Madreselvas, Chile from Winter 2008.

Dear Sponsors,

We are already in November, and like in the previous years, we want to let you know about our Village’s life and events.

At present, there are living in the Village 105 boys, girls and youngsters in 12 families. During last months we could give the welcome to 15 children, between 4 and 8 years old. The most surprising is their easy adaptation and the welcome the whole family prepares: each mother and all brothers and sisters do their best decorating their new bedrooms, choosing a nice present and preparing delicious things to eat for this special occasion. Many of them, despite to be very young have already lived in different places. They arrive fearful and distrustful and this welcome makes them easier the first day.

Some of our youngsters, women mainly, could got independent and started to work. Some children, still very young, came back to live with their biological families, after a long process of approaching, which was difficult to assume for their Village’s mothers, with whom they for the first time felt love and received necessary cares for their development. But at the same time we are glad to see how their families are in conditions to assume the responsibility for these children can grow together their biological family.

SOS Mothers, constantly have the possibility to take courses and workshops, mainly in our Vocational Training Center, supporting their complex and arduous work. There, between a course and other those mothers with a big experience help those who are just arriving and of course arrive with big enthusiasm and energy, which produces a sort of re enchantment for old mothers who in some occasions have to live difficult and painful moments.

Each year the Village needs some more less big fixes to keep houses in good conditions, considering that live between 8 and 9 children from different ages on each house. This year, houses were painted by inside, and some floors, kitchens and home boilers were replaced.

Children growing up at Madreselvas, Chile

Today, we have 18 little boys and girls in an SOS Nursery School, 64 children, between 6 and 15 years old, in Basic School and 7 ones in High School, soon to finish it.

We are close to the end of the year, so we focus in the ending of the school year. We have been lucky, since during the year we counted with the collaboration of psycho-educational training students of a prestigious institute. They support children with learning difficulties and thanks to this help; children’s academic results have been improved considerably.

Boys and girls must count with spaces fulfilling their real cultural and sport needs of development and with activities outside of the School. Students of a Theater Academy come three times a week to our Village for rehearsing with a group of 20 boys and girls approximately. Our children participate with a big enthusiasm and some of them show amused talents. Sport can not be absent. Since several months ago, a famous football player comes to practice with children their favorite sport, at least for boys.

Talking about football, recently in our country was carried out the Under-20 Women Football World Championship. It was inaugurated by the FIFA President; Mr. Joseph Blatter. To our surprise he, together with the Chilean Football Federation President, visited our Village, playing with our children and answering many questions about the most famous players in the world. Children’s happiness and curiosity were the most significant, even more at the moment when they received presents from Mr. Blatter; 60 football balls, the same kind used in the Under-20 Women Football World Championship. And then, if like Santa Claus would have read their Christmas letters; their most appreciated Christmas presents appeared: two Chilean clothes football equipments. When time to say good bye arrives, and after taking a lots of pictures; Mr. Blatter made an important money gift for SOS Children Chile It was an exciting event.

An independant future at Madreselvas, Chile

We have to mention that our independent youngsters visit us regularly and even, sometimes get in charge of “their” house when SOS mother have to go out for a day. It is always said that youngsters are not interested in politics, but we instill them to have more interest because it is about their future. In October there were Municipal Elections, and with surprise we noticed the young lady Juliette, who is 20 years old, was candidate for town councilor in a small town out of Santiago. She wants to participate actively like other youngsters taking decisions about their town or city.

Christmas is coming, occasion where children and adults decorate their houses with big enthusiasm, from the Christmas tree to the crib, in which, by tradition the youngest boy or girl of the house put the figure of Jesus baby after the midnight of 24th. The youngest children look forward the Santa Claus’ arrival, who never disappoints them and despite the heat (in December is summer) he arrives with his long white beard and warm red suit, bringing a big bag filled with candies and presents. In our Village we have a big natural pine in the common garden, which is decorated every year in such a colorful way that it is seen from a distance.

Dear friends and sponsors, in this moment when the financial crisis is affecting us in one way or another, we thank and value your help and wish you a beautiful celebration together with your family and a good year 2009.

Yours cordially,

Gontrán Pelissier M.
Director SOS Children’s Village Madreselvas