HOGAR JUVENIL CAMPESINO Y MINERO AMAGA was founded in 1965 by the San Fernando Rey Catholic Parish, parents, and other citizens of Amaga, Antioquia. The Center is home to boys and girls who live in rural areas without easy access to secondary schools. Forty children and young adults from 10 to 24 years of age live at the facility Monday through Friday, where they are provided with food and lodging, attend high school in the town of Amaga, and return home to their families on the weekends. Without this Center, it would be difficult for those kids to reach a school or a learning institution regularly. Most of them would have to travel over an hour by foot to town, and if the weather doesn’t cooperate, it would be almost impossible to commute while their parents are working on farms or in coal mines.
WHAT DO THEY DO
Paola Montoya, Director, and Head of this Youth Center, explains that in addition to attending schools in town, the kids can access other programs taught at the youth center. With the support of volunteers and people of good faith, the Center can provide different spiritual and personal growth programs. They teach organic vegetable gardening and pisciculture and emphasize the “escuela campesina,” or school farm. They work the farm identity and support the love for the farms and countryside. They want the children to feel that being in rural areas and working the land is not a punishment but a gift. They study their cultural identity and social and environmental consciousness and create opportunities for themselves in their environment. The idea is that they won’t migrate to the big cities for work, instead will find compelling reasons to stay.
The Center also provides its children a “spiritual laboratory” where they can draw, create art, and write poetry.
HOW DO THEY STAY UP AND RUNNING?
Hogar Juvenil Amaga doesn’t receive any financial help from the government. They raise money daily with no fixed income. Support is received from benefactors and food donations, which is the most critical item, especially now. During COVID-19, the Center had to close its doors to visitors who typically rent the space for teamwork activities and education. Mrs. Montoya explains that it’s been difficult for the institution to create revenue and stay afloat. This past year the children organized healthy food baskets that sold in town and arts and crafts from recyclable materials. Aside from food, one of their primary needs is replacing the kitchen stove, dishes, pots, and pans. The kitchen needs a special area to cut and prepare vegetables to avoid cross-contamination. The last State health inspection also recommended that they change linens and pillows. Mrs. Montoya is trying her best to continue with this institution after almost 58 years of operation. They need our help! Clarena’s Coffee is committed to supporting this youth center so that they can provide essentials like food and a basic but clean and healthy environment for the children.
For additional information, please click on the following link.
https://damara2103.wixsite.com/hogarjuvenil
