Paula[1] was 11 years old when her mother abandoned her on the streets of San José, Costa Rica. By the age of 12, she was entangled in the dark world of commercial sexual exploitation. Finding herself pregnant at 14, she went on to give birth to a baby boy – little José[2].
Paula’s predicament was not unusual. Conservative estimates suggest that 40 million children live and work on the streets of Latin America, of which 20-25% are girls[3].
The government placed Paula and José in a home for unwed mothers. But as her 18th birthday approached – the day that government funding would end – her future looked bleak. Her youth and despair reflected in her parenting. The government was ready to remove José and place him in a state orphanage.
While Paula was reaching rock bottom despair, a Christian family in another part of San José was completing preparation to become a ‘Casa Viva family’. Under the leadership of Pastor Ricardo, their church was committed to develop a ‘Casa Viva ministry’. José’s life was about to be transformed!
The ‘Casa Viva’ idea is simple: one church supporting one family, caring for one child – multiplied in thousands of churches and families throughout Latin America. Casa Viva is an initiative of Viva Network, an agency that exists to connect and unite Christians working with children at risk, so that more children are reached, more effectively. Children just like José. The reason is simple – wecan do so much more when we work together than we can if we work apart
Casa Viva demonstrates to the Christian community that there are new models of caring for at-risk children. It strengthens families to love their children effectively, and it gives opportunities and hope to children without families.
The Christian family in San José – Andres, Yenory, and their two children, Andrea 8 and Esteban 6 – were a perfect fit for Paula and José. Casa Viva made the connection and little José moved into their home. Pastor Ricardo and the Casa Viva team at his church also found Paula her first part-time job, helped her rent a room, and are supporting her contact with José. In due course, once Paula has re-established herself, everyone hopes that she and José will be reunited.
Not every child is as fortunate as José. This is why Viva Network supports initiatives like Casa Viva in many countries around the world – initiatives that give Christians the vision and passion for working with children at risk and enable them to inspire each other, and improve and increase what they do.
With thanks to Joanna Watson, Advocacy and Communications, Viva Network
[1] Not her real name
[2] Not his real name
[3] Source: UNICEF
