The objective of the project called “The House of Girls,” the most recent realization of our Mission, is to welcome young girls and adolescents aged 8 to 16 whose right to live a dignified and civil life has been violated in some way.
These girls live in the outskirts of Barbacena, in neighborhoods where drug abuse, alcohol, and illegal activities are the norm. They live in extreme poverty, which makes them more exposed to physical and moral risks, and at a higher probability of harm simply because they are female.
The young women welcomed into the house bear the tragic marks of the abuse they have suffered, both physically and emotionally. The majority of families have no work and therefore live in the most extreme poverty.
The government provides a small family allowance of about 85 Reals (approximately 20 Euros) for those with children, but this is barely enough to survive. They are forced to find ways to put food on the table day by day. Small contributions from religious organizations or meager donations from private individuals help to alleviate these shortages.
Another significant issue is that the children in these families often have different fathers. Many times, the father (or stepfather) is an alcoholic or drug user, which significantly increases the risk for the girls in this environment that is improperly called a “family”.
The girls welcomed into the “Saint Michael the Archangel” house, despite their young age, have already experienced a great deal of suffering. Their wounds are deep and indelible, both physically and especially emotionally.
Some have parents in prison, others have already attempted suicide, and all bear the scars of unspeakable abuse, mostly sexual abuse, physical violence, verbal and psychological abuse, deprivation of food, and other atrocities that require immediate care and rapid intervention.
In view of an ever-increasing and urgent demand, the “Saint Michael the Archangel” Mission has launched the “House of the Girls” project, with the aim of helping families to provide care to reduce exposure to these risk factors and guarantee a more serene and safe home for adolescents, with the intention of reducing the consequences and preventing them from remaining victims of the environment in which they are placed.
