On June 28, the Saint Monica’s Home was the scene of a magical and joyful afternoon for the girls and adolescents welcomed by the institution, who left their routines for a moment to fill their faces with smiles and their hearts with positive and joyful experiences.
The festivities of the month of June come every year with their traditions and entertainment to all of Brazil, to the Northeast region as the place where these traditions were born and, more especially, to the State of Ceará, where they are lived with great intensity.
Around the night of Saint John, the night of the dances around the fire, people celebrate these festivities in a particularly communal way: there are special meals typical of this time, typical dances where girls and boys play fundamental roles, typical clothes such as checked shirts or straw hats, and a happy memory of the rural world and its old customs.
At the Saint Monica’s Home, the socio-educational project of the Augustinian Recollect Family, the date scheduled for the party was Friday, June 28. It was a vibrant and colorful celebration for the beneficiaries, who here receive comprehensive care, training, education, food and a safe and dignified environment where they can grow up in peace and security.
The objective is to keep them away from situations of abandonment, abuse, violence, exploitation or violations of their fundamental rights and those of their childhood. These are situations that they went through and that led the competent judicial authorities to send them to the Santa Monica Home to recover and prepare for a better future.
The entire environment of the Saint Monica’s Home was filled with an atmosphere of change of pace and fun. There was no shortage of traditional games, such as fishing and hoops, which brought out laughter; nor were the typical foods, which have corn as their central product, available to delight everyone with the flavors typical of this time of year.
One of the most anticipated moments was the presentation of the dance “groups.” The beneficiaries danced excitedly in their colorful costumes, displaying the contagious energy that only youth can provide. The choreography had been carefully rehearsed and captivated the spectators.
The special surprise was the presence of Stitch, a Disney character, a blue alien with a unique charisma. He delighted the girls, who had fun taking pictures and receiving his warm hugs.
It was an unforgettable party, only possible thanks to the generous support of collaborators and volunteers in a joint effort: they donated food and costumes, helped organize the activities and decorated the space.
With their generous gesture, they played a fundamental role. The empathy and solidarity shown were essential to live a true community celebration: the spirit of unity and the desire of everyone to share the joy prevailed, a symbol of the power of unity.
The joy in the eyes of the beneficiaries and the gratitude expressed in their smiles were the most significant reward. Between balloons, colorful flags and lots of music, the day will remain in their memory as a day of pure joy and communion.
The hope is that events like this continue to occur, strengthening community ties and bringing joy to those who need it most and to those who are most grateful for every moment and experience of peace and encouragement..
