The Children’s Center, a school and home for Christian children at risk, has given two girls unique opportunities to growth spiritually, emotionally, and academically. Jacqueline arrived at the Children’s Center in 1999, shortly after her father was murdered. Blanca, whose father was also murdered, came in 2006, when around 45 children lived there. Both are now 18 and will receive their high school diplomas this year.
Jacqueline
Jacqueline arrived at the “Hogar,” or Children’s Center, in 1999. The home had just been established to protect the children of pastors and church leaders who are at risk, threatened or killed for their Christian faith. Clemente, Jacqueline's father, was assassinated in 1999, "allegedly by a guerrilla group" who accused him of collaborating with the army. He served as captain of the community, the highest position of leadership that exists within the indigenous community.
Jacqueline has had a very hard time overcoming the loss of her father. She does not talk much about what happened but when she feels lonely, away from family, she relives what happened and says that if her father were alive, things would be very different for her.
Back then, the Hogar was located in a rental home in Villavicencio. Twenty children lived there and spent most of their time in music classes, in the bakery and in other activities developed by a couple who was in charge of childcare. As the need grew to develop academic activities, a few elementary grades were taught with volunteer teachers and the support of missionaries from a school nearby.
When it became necessary to find a proper place where the children had more space and the tools to develop as young adults, property was purchased in 2000. Jacqueline was one of the first to move to this new location. She is the second of five children (including two half-brothers from different fathers). Her older brother, Rene, also lived at the Hogar. In 2007, he returned to his home town of Mitu after finishing the 9th grade. He was never able to finish high school and is now serving in the military.
Jacqueline’s cousins, Paola and Jenny, have also been part of the Hogar. Paola left the Hogar in 2007 after finishing the 9th grade. Unlike Jacqueline’s brother, Paola was able to obtain her high school diploma in December 2009. Jenny is still a student at the Hogar.
Low Self-Esteem
Jacqueline arrived as a child with very low self-esteem, rejected by their peers, and shy. She was ashamed of a health problem and isolated herself from the rest of the group. This was a very difficult time in her life. She had problems at first because of the language barrier. Her native tongue is not Spanish. For the past three years, her health has stabilized and she has recovered physically and emotionally. She performs her duties responsibly, is a good leader, and gets along with all her classmates.
She is part of the worship team and says that she wants to return to her community as a missionary. She stands out in the group as being a girl of firm, high moral standards. Her commitment to the Lord is a testimony to all her classmates.
Last year, 10th grade was a challenge for Jacqueline, now 18. It took her some time to get used to the more rigorous schedule and study times. In the end, she passed with good grades. She is creative, talented, likes crafts, baking, and likes working in the farm. She will graduate with her high school diploma in 2010 after finishing 11th grade.
Returning Home is a Risk
All of her support comes from the Hogar. The biggest risk for Jacqueline is to visit her family, because she might not be able to return for lack of funds or because she would be forced to stay and look after her siblings (this is part of their culture). If she would have returned home, she would not have completed her academic formation.
She left her town 10 years ago and seldom returns to the place which had few opportunities for her. She has very little contact with her mother, who calls her a couple times a year. Her family has only visited her once at the Children’s Center. In their culture, family relations are not deep, especially after 10 years of not living with her mother.
The Children’s Center has given her unique opportunities. Jacqueline says she is better prepared with the education she’s received, which can provide her with the opportunity to obtain a job that allows her to pay for the remainder of her career. She must also help financially support her family once she returns home.
Blanca
Blanca, one of 11 siblings, arrived at the Children’s Center in 2006, when around 45 children lived there. Blanca’s father was a pastor who was killed on January 14, 2002, for preaching the gospel. At that time, she was shy, had low self-esteem, and thought she was unattractive.
At 18, she now participates in activities, shows leadership, commitment and self-confidence. She is creative, likes to draw, is passive, and generally quiet. She has started to show signs of a hearing problem that has limited her in some activities. She is under medical treatment for it.
Blanca began her Christian faith in a Unitarian Church, which only believes in Jesus. Her first years in the Hogar were very confusing, especially when she would return home and hear different accounts about Christian beliefs. It is still difficult for her. Her family questions the change in her Christian convictions. She felt rejected, but has learned to handle the situation.
Her academic performance is good, but it was hard for her at first to adjust to the changes and the academic demands. Her mother has no possibility of financially supporting her study. The only way for her to continue studying is to work and pay as she goes.
She shows interest in domestic chores. Last December she worked for a month in a home with a family to get the money to allow her to return to the Hogar. Apart from this, she says she also liked the experience of working. She concluded, "It seemed difficult. Things cost and we need to take advantage of them."
Since last year she signed a commitment with the Hogar to actively participate in all the activities and engage in all areas. This measure was taken as a mechanism to motivate her so that her time at the Hogar would be much more relevant.
