Weaving dreams!

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On February 03 of this year, we inaugurated, in the Diocese of Armenia, the program ‘Weaving Dreams of Hope’ aimed at children and adolescents in vulnerable situations. Eight months have passed and today we can say that we have walked a path of hope in which we have felt God’s blessing and the support of generous institutions and people who have seen, in essence, the possibility of responding to the needs of our society and especially the most vulnerable. The program was born from the evangelical inspiration: ‘he who becomes a child, becomes worthy of the kingdom of heaven’ (Mt 19,14) in which we apply the methodology called ‘learn by doing’, based on the pedagogical teachings of Maria Montessori , Paulo Freire and Saint John Bosco. The process begins in the street as the first stage, because through ‘fraternal routes’, visiting depressed sectors and coming into contact with families, a ‘hook’ is generated, that is, it seeks to create bonds of fraternity and trust that allow then the boys approach the house. These routes are carried out by an interdisciplinary team from the diocese, responsible for the program under the direction of a psychologist and involving other professionals: a social worker, a street educator, a pedagogue and a home educator. The second setting is the house; upon arrival, the boys are welcomed and, in the ‘re-signifying lives’ office, their itinerary begins; there they are oriented and provided with the pertinent information about the operation of the program; when they arrive with their parents they must sign the ‘informed consent’, which guarantees the seriousness and responsibility of our work. The house is animated by the spirituality of Don Bosco, who dedicated his life to the service of youth and created the so-called ‘oratories’, a spiritual and psychological disposition from which enthusiasm, patience and perseverance emanate. It is about the pedagogy of love shown and received, as Jesus himself taught us: ‘Love one another as I have loved you’ (Jn 13:34). This oratory rests on four dimensions: house, school, church and patio. Later, two other features were added: workshop and homeland. Hence, in our house there are some spaces where children can interact, play, learn music, dream. Spaces that we have named with some suggestive names that invite you to get involved with the environment and spirituality: the games room –’Diver-games’; ‘the knowledge room’ is the computer room and the reading room; ‘sounds of the soul’ is the music room; ‘band aids of love’ is the medical and spiritual office; ‘flavors of dreams’ is our cuisine; ‘heal you’ the art room; ‘touches of trust’ is the psycho-social care office; the ‘Don Bosco’ oratory, a space for spirituality; ‘Huellas de alegría’ is the patio where there are some machines for gymnastics and ‘Teatro la Esperanza’. We also allow ourselves to be seduced by the pedagogy of Maria Montessori, characterized by having an orderly, aesthetic, prepared environment that helps the integral development of the child in which solidarity, respect and socialization are promoted and teaches us that it is through respect, listening, empathy, trust, freedom, responsibility, how love is articulated. Likewise, ‘the pedagogy of hope’ by Paulo Freire, which proposes a critical reading of the world that does not generate despair, urging us to think about the possibilities that we human beings have to rebuild our lives. In this way, concentrating our pastoral and spiritual work on “the person”, centered on Christ, who dignifies and calls us to a commitment to life, love and hope, this program was born in which we have dreamed and for which we have built ‘dreams of hope’ together. All this has allowed the approach to various institutions to generate successful inter-institutional alliances and agreements. An agreement and cooperation has been signed with the Red Apoyor corporation, the Antonio Nariño University, the Superior Normal School, the Contemporary Gymnasium, among others. It has the support of the University of Quindío through the faculty of social work, the Lions club and the donation of time, talent and work of a group of volunteers formed by the diocese. The program has been socialized to the corps of officers and non-commissioned officers with their wives, from the army and the national police. We have been invited to participate in some encounters and meetings with the ICBF, the family secretariat of the government of Quindío. A network of benefactors who believe in this program has been built, in addition to the support of priests, institutions such as Gardens of Armenia and some media. So, thank you for believing that ‘together we can be a beacon of light’ for so many children and adolescents who today more than ever need a voice of hope and concrete actions to help them give new meaning to their lives.

Weaving dreams!