~ by Griselda Acosta, Director of the Cabrini School of Villa Amelia
A View Into our World
Our school is located in the humble neighborhood of “Engineer Budge”, in the district of Lomas de Zamora, three blocks from a river and the daily market ‘La Salada’. During the days of the market, this area is difficult to access and often polluted. Further, due to the proximity to the river, the entire area, including the school and the nearby MSC health facility, is often flooded. The community is for the most part composed of immigrants from Paraguay, Bolivia, and Peru, who came to our country in search of a better future. They earn their living by carrying out various activities during the market days, such as taking care of the stalls, selling food on the street, using carts, etc.
The neighborhood is comprised of low-cost, precariously built housing, where large extended families live together. Many of these families do not have access to basic services and due to a number of factors, many of are subject to recurring episodes of domestic violence.
The Importance of the School for the Community
Villa Amelia Cabrini School is recognized as an established institution and respected by the local community. Mother Virginia, the Missionary Sister of the Sacred Heart who founded the school moved by the love for Mother Cabrini’s work and supported by the MSCs, completely devoted herself to the development of this mission. The families in the community remember well this missionary work, and their participation in the construction of the school.
For our community, the school represents a place where, beyond education, people can find a refuge, and thanks to the presence of the Sisters and the missionary spirit of all of us, people here feel that this is a place to turn to when they have difficulties.
Gifts and New Challenges in Serving the Families We Work With
We have seen great results thanks to the people involved in our Cabrinian mission and their efforts undertaken despite facing difficult situations. In addition, it is necessary to know how to make the best use of the resources coming from various benefactors to give our children a dignified and quality education. We are aware that in these contexts, education is a fundamental tool to move these families lives forward.
The challenge that we are facing today is mainly to help families hit by this pandemic, both in their spiritual and basic needs. Those who have the least are actually the most vulnerable to the situation we are experiencing. This leads me to reflect on this question: “how can we talk about pedagogy to a family if they do not have enough to eat”?
During the pandemic, thanks to the presence of the Sisters in the nearby MSC Community house, we were able to have constant communication with the families. We organized the monthly delivery of a package of basic food products to help the families. To carry out this project, the school and community work side-by-side. The meetings we held with the families took place in an organized way and with the attention that navigating the consequences of the pandemic requires of us.
We have very demanding times ahead of us, but I know that God wanted me to be here: I have a mission to carry out and I know that Mother Cabrini will guide me (and us all) with the right words, love and support to continue her Mission.
Griselda Acosta was born on August 23, 1977 in Argentina. She belongs to a modest family, with illiterate parents. She has been teaching since 2006 and has a long experience of working in difficult contexts and ill-famed neighborhoods.
Director of the Cabrini School of Villa Amelia since April 5, 2019.