“Overwhelming but rewarding”
- Niamh Heraty and Triona McCaffrey, volunteers October 2003 – April 2004

In April 2004, Niamh Heraty and Triona McCaffrey, both from Westport in Co Mayo, completed a period of six months’ voluntary work in Santa Teresa Home in Oberá. “Our task was to help care for the home’s thirty residents in whatever way we could,” says Niamh. “Although initially overwhelmed by the poverty in the area, we found these six months hugely rewarding.”

“It was a privilege to build up relationships with young and old in Hogar Santa Teresa,” says Triona. “The most difficult part was saying goodbye. But we won’t forget our stay. We hope to visit again soon.”

Niamh Heraty pictured with Jonathan,
one of the youngest residents in St Teresa’s Home.



Triona McCaffrey pictured with Andrea,
another young resident of St Teresa’s Home.

“The rights of the disabled are virtually non-existent” – Noelle O’Keeffe, volunteer 1998

Noelle O’Keeffe, an Applied Psychology graduate from Ballyhooly, Co. Cork, describes her six months working as a volunteer in Santa Teresa Home, Oberá.

"I arrived in Oberá expecting a different climate and culture to what I experienced. The intense heat and humidity was the first to hit me, as was a drop in blood pressure and incredible fatigue. With temperatures of up to 45 degrees, it was a most difficult climate to adapt to. I welcomed the sub-tropical storms which gave relief, maybe two or three days of black skies and torrential rain.

The people of Argentina are delightfully warm and welcoming so it wasn’t long before I felt a part of many different families. Faced with the challenge of learning Spanish I found the patience of people most reassuring. As my six months went by, my knowledge of the language improved and I got to know more of Oberá’s people and culture. There are no secrets; within an hour of many meetings with strangers I knew most of their life stories - the good and the bad parts.

What struck me most about Santa Teresa Home was its great achievement in getting to where it is now, being a home for the poorest of poor people. Argentina has a high level of corruption although this is not advertised to the outside world. As a result the health infrastructure has suffered. Unless they have money to attend private clinics, the poor are consigned to a local hospital where hygiene is not a priority and where it is not uncommon to see blood, vomit or faeces on walls, floors or bed sheets.

Because of corruption and poverty the rights of the disabled are virtually non-existent. For many families faced with a disabled child the easiest option is sometimes abandonment.

One of our residents, Yoli (10) was found in a field covered by insects. Her mother had died and her father abandoned her there, resulting in malnutrition (when found her head was twice the size of her body) and loss of sight. Another resident is Clorinda (54) who was found deaf, dumb, blind, mentally and physically handicapped, in a one-roomed cabin crawling in dirt and living on what neighbours gave her. She had also been violated. We know little else of her history.

Two others, Pochi and Polaca, were sisters – children of incest and physically malformed. At 25 and 26 years old respectively they look like children of 10 in their wheelchairs. They were abandoned on the side of the road by their mother. Their father committed suicide, which was one of the last things Polaca saw before she lost her sight. They also have a disabled brother.

Cases like these are only a sample of what the poor in Argentina are faced with. Disabled and abandoned, there is little hope for them. Homes such as this one in Oberá are few and far between and as with many new initiatives it is an uphill struggle. With many preferring to turn a blind eye, poor standards of education, a lack of governmental support and insufficient funds generally, it is difficult to find and employ professionals.

In Oberá, at least, there is a beacon of light – thanks to the Homes of Santa Teresa and Our Lady of Lujan.”