Teens find refuge in Las Violetas

Janet Goreham

The teens fondly refer to it as El Refugio. Located in a neighbourhood called Las Violetas (The Violets) in Córdoba, Argentina, the light blue, single-story house has four rooms that overflow with tables, chairs, and oftentimes people. The large cracks in its cement walls run floor to ceiling and are visible from inside and out. Most locals avoid Las Violetas like a leper colony. But, for many of the teens living there—where drugs, crime, and poverty are part of everyday life—El Refugio is exactly what its name implies: a refuge.

In response to the evident needs within Las Violetas, OM Argentina purchased El Refugio in 2006 with the vision to provide a place of opportunity for the teens within the neighbourhood. The house serves as a training centre, bakery, school, game room and, most importantly, a safe haven.

OM workers Raul and Andrea Muller spend as much time in El Refugio as possible, providing activities, opportunities and positive examples for the teens. Activities include music, theatre, sports, devotions and Bible studies. Tutors also help with schoolwork. The Mullers are available with a listening ear to whatever the teens are dealing with nearly 24 hours a day.

“For me, the adolescent years is the richest time in life,” expresses Andrea, who feels that God has gifted her specifically to teach and counsel teens. “It’s the time when we discover a lot of things about ourselves, the potential we have that we didn’t realize. And, as a leader, it is an age that we can start having an impact on them and direct them in a way that will carry into the rest of their lives.”

The Mullers also set up a microenterprise business to help the teens earn money while learning the value of hard work and responsibility. A woman from a local church who owns a bakery teaches the teens how to make the pastries. They are paid according to the time they work and then sell the pastries in the neighbourhood.

“We want to have a place for people to have options,” explained OM Argentina Field Leader Samuel Meza. “A friend once told me once that poverty is basically the lack of options. You can see that very clearly in Las Violetas. We want to offer [the teens] a choice to do something different with their lives.”

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