San Marcos Sierras is a small town in the hills about three hours away from the city of Cordoba. It was apparently founded around three hundred years ago as a reservation for the indigenous population; until the ruling Spanish realised that San Marcos was actually a nicer environment than the Spanish town of Cruz del Eje about 20 kms away, so they came and took it over again. Back in the 1960's it became a hippy colony, and today it is still home to a bunch of aging hippies who can be seen shuffling around the plaza. Surrounded by hills and bordered by two cristal rivers, it is a beautiful environment for tourists, and produces outstanding honey and olives. Most importantly, it is also the location of a childrens' home, "Hogar Sierra Dorada".
The home was started and is run by a Christian couple, Julio and Patricia. It provides a place for around 20 kids at a time, from ages 0 to about 19. Families in Argentina tend to be larger than in the UK, so it is not unusual to find five or six children from the same family here at any one time.
All of the kids are in the home under the protection of the legal system, mostly because they have experienced abuse or maltreatment. The home aims to find foster and adoptive families for as many of the children as possible, but also provides long term accommodation for those who are unable to be placed with families, particularly some of the older children.
We go out to the home fairly often, sometimes just for a day, and sometimes for a few days. It is a great place to escape from the Big City of Cordoba.
Hazel is helping the staff at the home and the primary school with ideas and support for some of the kids who are finding school particularly difficult.
We are also enjoying just spending time with the kids, and now we've been back a few times we are building up relationships especially with the guys who have been there longer who recognise us and invite us to join in with them.
Bikes are always a favourite, with or without wheels! The kids below are playing marbles... some things are pretty much the same all over the world. Football is pretty popular too, being Argentina and all.
Sometimes we just monkey around...
Or hang out...
You can find out more about the home and the work that they are doing by visiting their website, which is at www.sierradorada.com.ar. There is information in Spanish, German and English; and lots of pictures.
