Welcome to our new Casa de Transicion "La Esperanza" web page!
Here you will find the latest news on the lives, activities hopes and aspirations of the girls living here. Please feel free to check back frequently!
A lot of thought and careful planning has gone into our decision to open a transition house for the older girls at Refugio. These teenage young women have different needs and concerns at this special and difficult time in their lives. They need a home where they can learn to function as a family, learn the value of money, be open to better educational opportunities and become the responsible adults we know they can be.
I am happy to say that our new transition house opened in June and on a beautiful sunny morning seven very excited girls moved in. The home is open to girls from the Refugio, ages 12 to 18. We hope this experience will better prepare them to enter either the workforce or the university. The home has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a study, living room, kitchen and dining room. It is located in a very safe neighborhood close to schools, medical care and the town plaza.
Our firm and loving live-in housemother Mari, along with our administrator Sol, are at the core of the girl's daily lives. Together they have established house rules with their rewards, consequences and schedules. The girls of course tested them immediately. Psychological support as well as sexual, cultural and academic programs have been put into place. Furniture was donated, a budget drawn up and requests for support sent out. The girls registered for school with three of them enrolled at Colegio Juana de Asbaje and three of them at Colegio Nueva Galica.
Let me introduce our residents.
Sofia loves living at the house. She is a bit quieter than most and is clever at avoiding chores if she can but always with a smile. Sofi is our dancer. She loves dance and gymnastics. We have found a generous sponsor who has offered to cover the cost of gymnastic classes for her. Sofi hopes that other sponsors will help cover the costs of the other girls hobbies. Until we have sponsors for all the girls, Sofi feels she cannot begin her classes. Can you help?
Lucia, our youngest at age 12 is a joy to be around and is always willing to go the extra mile to help. She says she thinks the new house is very pretty and wishes her mother had a nice house like it too. Lucy would also like to begin swimming classes.
Carmen, a very loving girl at heart, is Lucia's older sister. She is still unsure of herself and often needs a bit more encouragement. While often struggling with those familiar teen-age moods, she knows that we are here for her and she does try to be respectful to everyone. We know that great things are ahead for her.
Angela also carries a lot inside her and like Carmen, the teen years are difficult for her but she loves living here and tries her very best. Angela loves to work on the computer.
