The Saint Augustine Psychosocial Center of the Augustinian Recollects has been able to offer its beneficiaries new services thanks to the collaboration of other institutions, companies and a higher study center.
On October 28, up to 200 children with their families enjoyed the Saint Augustine Psychosocial Center of the Jangurussu neighborhood (Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil) of a special party full of magic, dreams and fun.
These are the families that CAPSA accompanies throughout the year, with a situation of social and economic vulnerability, most of them single parents and living in a neighborhood that suffers the consequences of social inequality and exclusion.
The CAPSA is part of the framework of social tasks of the Augustinian-Recollect Family in Fortaleza, together with the Saint Monica Home, a shelter for girls and adolescents who have suffered violations of their rights, abuse, violence or abandonment.
Through CAPSA, preventive work is done to avoid reaching that situation with the minors, supporting families in their context of origin. The celebration of this festival children’s playground provided an oasis of joy, play and healthy leisure activities in the middle of the difficulties of everyday life.
The event was possible thanks to the collaboration of companies, volunteers and organizations local communities. Some donated toys, others food, others prepared the playful activities. Everyone enjoyed a day of strengthening family ties and community, promoting social integration, the union of affections and the common struggle for better neighborhoods, free of violence and that are healthy spaces for the growth of minors.
At the end, the general feeling was one of gratitude, both on the part of the organizers, as well as the volunteers and participating families. Collective well-being always results in an increase in personal and family well-being.
Mental health prevention
Likewise, Psychology students from the Ari de Sá University organized throughout the month transformation meetings directed for 50 CAPSA beneficiaries. The central objectives of these meetings were self-care, social integration and prevention of mental health.
Each day the activities began with breakfast and a welcome that enlivened the disposition of the participants. They followed different types of activities in which they were applied therapeutic techniques and conventional treatments to create spaces for coexistence, mutual trust and establishment of ties of support.
The day was dedicated to various games, moments of reflection and dialogue, sharing group experiences, dynamics of self-knowledge, introspection, techniques of relaxation… While respecting the uniqueness of each person and experience, they repeated patterns of experiences that allowed for mutual support and understanding.
The recovery of self-esteem, acceptance of personal and family circumstances, self-care are fundamental for every person, but even more so when the entire context that surrounds these families is one of social vulnerability, a lack of support structures and added complications such as family finances, labor relations or the impossibility of access to basic resources.
It so happens that no public institution offers more vulnerable any other professional support to safeguard mental health. The majority of these women feel deeply alone when facing their daily reality. This support from the Ari de Sá University has been, in this case, a great contribution to the service of CAPSA beneficiaries.
