The Patronato de la Infancia is one of the oldest, non-profit, institutions dedicated to child welfare in the country. Since the end of the 21st century, it has led the effort in favor of the unattended childhood, and today it’s still firm in its task. It was founded on May 23, 1892, in the middle of a big economic and political crisis in Argentina. At the time, thousands of immigrants were arriving to Bs. As. harbor in search of hope for their future. Work and dwelling were scarce, and, unattended children crowded boarding houses and wandered streets and "conventillos" (very poor and crowded tenements). A group of people decided to start the work of the Patronato de la Infancia to give protection to these children.

The proyect became a gigantic work of love: more than 1.750.000 children “in risk situation” took advantage of its free services.
When we look into the past we see that, as in many countries of the world, history repeats itself. The Patronato de la Infancia was founded as a response to an imperious necessity to save childhood in need and in a “risk situation”.
Today circumstances are very much alike. The “conventillos” have been replaced by the “villas miserias” (very poor group of cardboard, wood, etc. huts where poor people live in big cities) that are growing at an incredible speed.
Regretfully, once again Argentina is in the middle of a crisis and our children are at risk. Once again, we have to fight for them, to protect them from misery and its dangers: delinquency, violence, insecurity and hunger.
This is our duty; our institution was founded to pursue this goal and we, argentine of today, just like our ancestors, must fulfill it.

In spite of the severe economic situation of the country, we tried to reach all our goals: nourishment, instruction, and health, not forgetting a great quota of love, so that the 1800 children that attend freely our 3 institutes and 3 schools in the city of Bs. As. and in the rest of Argentina, can grow to be good men and women, useful to their communities.
There are children whose families have economic and social difficulties: mother or father alone in charge of her/his children, or both working parents, and no one to stay with the children, etc.
Children receive their education in the schools: Kindergarten (3 and 4 year olds), Initial level (Primary), E.G.B. complete (as the “Infancia (Childhood) 2000” School in Benavidez) and Intermediate level. Furthermore, there’s Childcare (2 year olds) in the Institutes.

How is life there?

Children have breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack in the Institutes, staying there until late in the afternoon, and participating in different activities, such as: “school help”, computation, theatre, etc. They also receive medical and dental assistance, and have a psycho-pedagogic cabinet, and social assistance to take care of each case in particular. We behave as a family. And, in a family, sorrows are divided, and happiness is multiplied; we form a world of shared feelings, where we feel at ease, secure, and integrated.
There we teach children the basis of these values through care and love.

 

The Patronato de la Infancia provides all these services in its Institutes and Schools:

• Institute Maria Antonia Loreto, founded in 1945. Address: Route 9, Km. 38, Benavidez, Pcia Bs. As. Phone: (03327) 481009. Telefax: (03327) 481192.
In 2008, it took care of 170 children.

• Infancia 2000 School, founded in 1990, Route 9 and 27, Benavidez, pcia, Bs. As. Phone; (03327) 481009. Telefax: 03327) 481192.
In March 2009, 563 children were registered.