LET'S GIVE EVERYONE A TASTE FOR LIFE

Let's give everyone a taste for life... 

The framework of the project 

Gabriela started to participate in the "El Campanario" neighborhood, which belongs to the community of the Virgin of Itatí chapel in the parish of St. Francis of Asisi. This is how she met Blanca, who told her about the reality of pregnant teenagers and those who have babies. This is how the dream of accompanying this reality was born, to make known the needs of these young women, and how people began to mobilize to help and follow the mothers.

At the first meeting in our house in "Guadalupe", a WhatsApp was set up with all of us and the young women who were pregnant and some already with their babies.  And so, it was on Saturday afternoon that Blanca, Lorena, Gabriela and I met them and their children. They shared the difficulty of school in this pandemic context and some of the tasks they had to do.

Gabriela motivated her students from the Euskal Echea school and they came to help, sharing what they know and also a math teacher. Celeste, Valentina, Agustina, Martina and Juana take responsibility on Saturdays to accompany them in their studies.

This project has just started and we hope it will continue to grow. There are 7 mothers between 14 and 17 years old and 5 from 18 years old. They are very happy with the space, the material help and the support and help at the school. They are very grateful for everything they have received.

Testimony

My name is Lorena Ortiz, I am 49 years old and I am at a turning point in my life, where I felt the need to be able to give something to the community. 

That's how I came across this solidarity project from an incredible woman, Gabriela, who told me about the idea she had in mind, told me about the wonderful work done by Father Cestac and it wasn't necessary for her to invite me because just by seeing her enthusiasm, I could not help but think about joining this project where we try to put the first person first.

These are teenage girls, who come from poor and marginalized areas. They have been victims of various forms of abuse and have chosen the path of life by deciding to keep their babies and raise them. Inexperienced and fearful like all new mothers, but determined not to let adversity get in the way of the tremendous challenge of not only giving life but, beyond that, being responsible for someone else's life.

My challenge is to be able to rise to the occasion, and to help from many points that are now, given their situation, their age and their life experiences, a limit. Little by little, I have discovered in these little women how they allow themselves to share their time and experiences. I always approach them as if they were my daughters and think about what I would tell my daughter about this question or problem they are asking me.

I feel that today there is still a long way to go, but my desire to be there comes from the depths of my being for them. Not just through welfare or some material goods that we can get and distribute, but by being there, by putting light where there is darkness today. To be there when they don't know where to turn or when they are in doubt about something concerning their baby. To be there to encourage them and to tell them that, whatever the situation they are going through, there is another reality if they dare to see it, that there is always hope, that there is always the possibility to improve, to grow and, why not, to dream of a future that is not so far away and that is sweeter for them.

It is a group where we come together as women, to take care of each other. More and more people are joining us to offer what they have to give, time, something rich to share, wisdom to pass on, things they have collected. I am looking at this group of mothers who have not had an easy life, but also at these babies who need all the care we can give them.

I am also gradually familiarizing myself with this link, because logically I don't know them from before and I also go with a certain fear and try to eliminate from my gaze the permanent prejudice to which we have been subjected since time immemorial. I go to meet them knowing that by giving much of myself, I will also receive much from them. It is impossible for anything good and great to come out of this, and it is also a way of giving back to the world the little or the much that I have received and multiplying it.