We Visit the Reformatory

The Instituto Preparatorio de Menores, which began in 1954 in a nearby town San Cristobal, is an institution run an order of Catholic priests specializing in teenage boys who have been abandoned or are in trouble with the law.  It's their last chance to improve their life.  At one point there were over 500 students, but finances have cut into that number and now there are only around 70 who live there 24/7 and go through the program in different steps. They have been recognized numerous times for their work by the state and the community. 

This is a beautiful couryard with signs
saying Peace, Unity, Love

Their program consists of helping youth progress through several stages of personal and moral conduct as they teach them marketable skills in mechanics, wood working, upholstery, electrical maintenance, etc.  Their goal is that these troubled youth leave their institution drug free and contributing members of society.  They have a very high success ratio.  The Institute demonstrates great creativity in how they manage to provide their own needs as best they can.  They have their own pig production operation and a large vegetable garden.  

Here is Padre Luis showing some of the donations

The Institute had contacted a number of organizations to help them with their needs, but one of the speakers said that we were the only one to respond.  The Church had purchased a number of hand tools, including screwdrivers, hammers, levels, and wrenches, and equipment including a vise, a ladder, and hand drills to use in their vocational program.

Rob getting them to relax for a photo

Here are some of the tools that they used

 

We went out to San Cristobal to film the members of the Stake there (a stake is like a diocese in our church) as they gave service.  They cleaned up a large area toward the back of the property that had a lot of trash and other items.

Really labor intensive particularly on a hot July day,
but everyone just jumped in a worked hard.

These were the only two girls, but they
did a fair share of work

Then in the afternoon, there was a closing ceremony where we (the Church) gave them the equipment and Padre Solis the director and also President Brito, the Stake President, spoke.  They were so grateful for the donation, and they are such good people.  The young men that we met were very nice and respectful.  

Some of the equipment that the Church donated.

We had never visited a reformatory before (Reformatorio is what everyone calls it although that sure wouldn't be the politically correct thing back in the United Stakes even if that is the function.)  We were so happy to spend the time with those good folks.

(We'll share the rest of our visit including a tour of the infamous dictator Trujillo's home there in San Cristobal, his home town, in our next post).