(ANS – Quito) – In the month of December in its houses the “Sacred Heart of Jesus” Province of Ecuador has organised a variety of activities to celebrate Christmas. Children, young people, teachers, parents, Salesians and their co-workers have been joyfully preparing for Christmas.

On 8 December the Salesian Polytechnical University on its El Girón Campus held an exhibition entitled “Open House,” presenting the Salesian project for street children  celebrating its 34th anniversary and the beginning of the Christmas festivities.

It demonstrated how the more than 3,000 who have benefited from the project are assisted on a daily basis with a variety of activities: carpentry, cosmetics, circus acts, group dances, the  “marimba” musical instrument and a football school.

On Tuesday 13 December in the Salesian “La Kennedy” institute Christmas  preparations began with a collection organised by the Chaplaincy Team on behalf of the “Zumbahua” communities at Cotopaxi, “Bellavista” at Salcedo and “La Foresta” in Quito. In addition every child was given a small statue of the infant Jesus and then in turn passed it on to a friend in what is traditionally called the  “passing of the infant” reminding them that the incarnation of the Son of God needs to be proclaimed to everyone.

The Laura Vicuña Foundation, which looks after street children will celebrate this Christmas with four new class-rooms. Sr Carmen Cuñas, FMA, Director of the Foundation, has thanked the companies and the individuals, who through their solidarity ahs made this possible.

On 16 December the small pupils, boys and girls  who attend the school of the Foundation each day had a special day thanks to the celebration organised by various institutions and the University. This included Christmas sweets and presents, performances by clowns bringing the little ones some moments of special joy.

At present the Laura Vicuña Foundation has three programmes: a reception centre for little street girls; a school programme which also provides free meals; and a “Therapeutic Support” programme in which boys and girls from other institutions are helped with their school work and given a free lunch and snack.

Published 23/12/2011