Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Puerto Piray (Agenzia Fides) – The town of Puerto Piray, Misiones province, a region in the north-east of Argentina, is characterised by a very complex socio-economic situation. It is a region of the country with one of the highest rates of poverty and numbers of indigenous peoples. Here, for nearly twenty years, the Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of Cuneo have been managing the project “Niños, Niñas y Adolescentes sanos y felices: Centros de Educación Popular”, which deals with education, nutrition, public awareness and strengthening of community and family ties. The beneficiaries of this project are 300 children, aged 6 to 12 years, in situations of social risk, 50 young carers and young teachers from 12 to 17 years who have no chance to continue their studies, and the most vulnerable families. The objectives are the prevention of abandonment of schooling by children and adolescents in poor conditions and/or victims of sexual abuse; the reduction of cases of chronic malnutrition and the creation of a secure environment that facilitates collaboration with families and social cohesion in the communities of Puerto Piraya. The Government provides little financial aid and the families benefiting from the project live in permanent danger. Sexual abuse, family violence, problems of emigration, malnutrition and limited access to social services in Puerto Piraya constitute a social problem that only gets worse in the poorest neighbourhoods. In the absence of jobs and economic resources, often mothers are forced to accept any offer, even prostitution, in order to feed their own children. Three centres in which adolescents work from Monday to Friday have been opened to try to protect these segments of the population and also offer them a nutritious meal to compensate for the large food shortages. (AP) (5/2/2011 Agenzia Fides)
