 |
 |
ARGENTINA, Sandra NNN..."Great ideas are born in small spaces. My work was born on a rainy afternoon. When I saw a group of children stirring up trash, looking for something to eat, I immediately thought: "my children could be there". I also thought that instead of crying or complaining I should do something for them. That was enough.." This is a small part of the book that reveals how the work of Ana Mon has developed.
Ana is a Schoenstatt woman - she, with her husband, belongs to the Federation of Families - who once while she was in the Shrine, asked the Blessed Mother to show her the mission destined for her as a woman, and She heard her.
But do the rest of the Schoenstatters know who she is? Ana Mon was born in La Plata, capital of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina; she founded a work that helps needy families, with parents who work and do not have anyone to care for the children, since they cannot afford the cost of public day care centers.
Together let's work for a better future
Ana has founded the Federation of Family Assistance, that has accomplished the establishment of many homes where families receive help and their children can be in a healthy environment. The first home is called "House of Hope" and from this one many others have grown, not only in Argentina, but also in Mexico, Bolivia, Uruaguay, Venezuela, Peru and even in Africa and India. More than 7,500 children and their families are convinced that there is a possiblity to transform their present lives and to work together for a better future.
How do these homes function? Needy families have great and multiple problems when both parents work outside the home, or when only the woman sustains the family and has to be out the home for many hours. In these cases who takes care of the children? This is where Ana Mon's work intervenes: these homes collaborate with the parents in the care and the complete education of their children while they work.
Option for prevention
These homes do not shelter street children, but they help to prevent these children from getting into that situation. In this way they prevent them from dropping out of school, from malnutrition, and from the danger of being on the streets. Family violence and juvenile delinquency is also diminished.
Ana Mon has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, and she is known worldwide for her work. She is determined to found more homes wherever they are necessary. She is an example for many, a person of mission consciousness, that God has given to each human being, conscious of one's commitment that one should have for others, conscious that you will not save the world, but certain that this commitment is for the present, because " tomorrow is too late".
If you are interested in learning more about her work read the book:
Ana
Mon. Transformation in Solidarity", M. Laura Fernandez de Sado.
Collection
of Personal Universes, Al Margen Editions.
Or go to their web page which
is also available in English:
www.esperanza.org.ar /
www.ciaf.org.ar
e-mail faafciaf@netverk.com.ar
Translation; Celina M. Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA