Cabrini Daycare Center for very poor children

Centro Social da Crianca--Madre Cabrini--Daycare Center
Angelina Manzini & Margarita
Founded 1994.
120 children, 1-6 years old
Padre Juao Drexel of Oblates of Mary Immaculate

Our visit to Centro Social da Crianca began with a passionate introduction by two staff members. The day care center provides for 120 children (most of whom are children of single mothers). The mothers are often street cleaners. The organization of the facility by the caregivers was impressive. The importance of play is stressed by the center. This is how they find themselves. Viewing the sleeping children caused us to wonder what their futures held for them. Often their homes were shared by 20 families with poor sanitary facilities. When nap time was over we had the opportunity to view the children during play. Twelve six year olds sang a song about spirit and the heart and Our Saviour.
The children presented us with a painting in which a collage featured Mother Cabrini holding a balloon.

A Rochester born priest of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate who runs two organizations devoted to helping the poor translated for the administrators and spoke of some of his work.