The center, “Lar Santa Mónica,” has two residences that attend to the educational, nutritional, sanitary and physico-psychical needs of 48 residents and minors. Aside from attending to the girls, the center also extends services to their families, especially the mothers or guardians. The total population of persons in the two residences is 112.

The program of the center covers various activities, which can be grouped into five areas: improvement of psycho-emotional state with development of social abilities, improvement of their social relations, nutrition, accompaniment that includes assessment of their family situation, and betterment of work through networking with other public and private entities.

Fr. Jose Alberto Moreno, the Augustinian Recollect missionary, who heads the entire project says: “In Spain life is also difficult, but this is nothing compared to the sufferings that we live in Brazil.” The girls who come to the center have been recommended by the juvenile court and “our work consists in prevention and security for them and their families.”

Infancy Lost

The Augustinian Recollect missionary explained, “We work in order that the minor, in the shortest time possible, can return to the society with the greatest dignity possible. We help them regain their dignity and for this to happen, we exert effort to improve their surrounding and environment. Many of them cannot return to their own families, but yes, to a more secure environment.”

“With this project we can save downtrodden lives, minors of 5 or 6 years of age, who were abused; girls who are already mothers in their tender 11 or 12 years of age, or minors who frequent the streets to sale their bodies; the young who come wounded and cruelly treated because they come home without the money expected by their own family,” Fr. Moreno emphasized.

He underscored the fact that, “With this project we cannot change Brazil, a country that is considered developing for many things but unfortunately not for many other persons. We can try, however, to improve the life of these minor and help them become a little happier. With dedication, much effort and work, and with persistence, we hope to achieve this.”

Cristina Martinez, a project collaborator who visited the centers in two occasions, has confirmed, “When I arrived there for the first time, I found that the project is much bigger than what it seemed; upon my return, I was made aware of the weaknesses of the country in relation to child care, and I was made to realize that even just for one girl to stop spending the night in this center was worth all the labor.”

Marisol Castillo, a collaborator of Haren Alde, the non-government organization of the Order showed similar sentiments: “Although there were times when we desired to give up, we did not succumb to fatigue or despair because these girls deserve our care, one that they do not find in their own families.”

Santiago Coello, the president of the “Asociación de Amigos de los Monasterios de San Millan” (Association of the Friends of San Millan Monastery), also pointed out: “All supports go directly to the centers without intermediaries.” And he emphasized: “The great work of these persons who attend to the girls is worth our support and applause.”