Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Luanda (Fides Service) - Children who live on the streets, children victims of violence in the family find a home at the Arnold Janssen Catholic Children’s Centre in Luanda, capital of Angola. The Home was opened in 1993 by a Divine Word missionary Father Horacio Caballero with the help of two women religious of the female branch of the Congregation the Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit , Sister Danuta Bunko and Sister Erlinda Moron and a group of young volunteers from Christ the King parish in Luanda. The centre is named after Bishop Arnold Janssen who founded the Missionary Congregation of the Divine Word in 1875.
When it opened the Centre was a group of tents. In 1994 the Luanda archdiocese donated a piece of land and the present building was constructed.
When civil war re-exploded after elections in 1992, thousands of children fleeing war zones filled the streets of Luanda, sheltering in old cars, ruined houses, on the beach. Many were wounded or had contracted malaria. Most came from extremely poor families, many were victims of domestic violence or had been tortured as suspects of witchcraft. To escape all this the children fled to the streets of Luanda, where many became involved in drugs, theft and prostitution.
The aim of the Arnold Janssen Home, which today has 338 children aged between 5 and 17, is to help the children realise they are loved and respected with proper citizens’ rights, as human persons and children of God. The Home also tries to reunite the children and their families and help them take an active part in rebuilding the country.
The staff and social assistance go out in search of the children and if they are willing the youngsters are taken to the Centre where they are cared for in every respect and also educated in human dignity person and the principles of citizenship with rights and duties. The children attend school classes, professional training courses and religious and moral education, they are also provide with medical care. In view of returning the children to their respective families, the Home co-ordinates activities with families, local church community and schools to prepare the youngsters to resume their rightful place in the family and in society. The Home provides economic support for host families who accept orphaned children which receive. For young people aged 16-17 jobs are found and poor families with little children are sustained with micro-credit projects. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 2/4/2004, righe 35 parole 468)
