Violeta, who has been a parent at Domingo Savio for 16 years, wished to share her experience with the foundation. Following her divorce, she found herself residing with her two sons, Ignacio and Diego, aged 8 and 4, respectively, at her mother’s residence. Unfortunately, this living arrangement proved to be more challenging than the one they had left, marked by threats, insults, fights, and humiliation.
In the summer of 2007, Violeta managed to rent a house, but her salary only covered basic bills, often leaving little for necessities like food. This financial strain also meant she couldn’t afford someone to care for her children while she worked, leading to instances where they had to stay alone at home. Coupled with her own anguish and depression, Violeta struggled to provide the support her children needed, lacking the knowledge and tools to navigate these challenging circumstances.
In her desperation, Violeta turned to Domingo Savio, initially seeking a place to care for her children during work hours. However, the foundation went above and beyond her expectations, opening their doors to embrace her children with love and providing more than she had initially sought. The foundation’s staff became the family Violeta and her children never had, offering protection and affection.
Tia Olga, along with the entire support team, consistently demonstrated concern for all families under their care. Their commitment extended beyond childcare to protecting and supporting the entire family unit. During crises and over the years, they ensured that Violeta’s family lacked nothing—providing financial assistance, groceries, and help with school expenses, including supplies, clothing, and shoes. During challenging times like Christmases when Violeta couldn’t afford dinner, let alone gifts for her children, the tias even provided her with food and gifts. Additionally, they offered significant emotional support, aiding Violeta in overcoming the traumas accumulated over these dysfunctional years. With their assistance, she was able to pursue education and personal development, ultimately providing a better economic well-being for her children.
Now aged 25 and 21, Ignacio and Diego have grown into intelligent, responsible professionals capable of facing life’s challenges. The foundation equipped them with tools beyond a welcoming environment, offering various workshops on academic support, civic education, computer skills, mathematics, English, and discussions on relevant topics such as sex education, bullying, and cyberbullying. The tias also ensured they had enjoyable experiences, organizing activities like dance, cooking, crafts, music, and outings to museums, pools, theaters, as well as trips to different places in Chile.
Despite having done better for herself over the 16 years, Violeta still relies on the foundation, now with her 7-year-old daughter, Dominique. Even if she had all the money in the world, there is no other place that assumes the commitment of caring for and protecting children and their families with the love, responsibility, and professionalism that Domingo Savio provides.
Violeta expresses eternal gratitude for the transformation in her life since encountering this foundation. She hopes for more places like Domingo Savio, dedicated to rescuing families and children at social risk.
“Así llegué a la fundación desesperada a pedir ayuda, me conformaba con un lugar que pudiera cuidar a los niños para poder trabajar tranquila, pero nos abrieron sus puertas, acogiendo a mis hijos con amor dándoles mucho más de lo que yo buscaba, los tíos se transformaron en familia que nunca tuvimos, entregándoles Protección y cariño.”
