This is how the territory full of landmines that extends beyond any given border is commonly called. Since Pope Francis’ arrival in the Vatican, it has become fashionable to speak of peripheries. But for us, of the House of Anna, who have lived in the peripheries for the last 23 years, it is high time to go beyond, to go much further, into the “no man’s land.” It is a terrain full of landmines where life counts little because, at any given time, it can be blown up by a mine.
During those long years living in the peripheries, we have met street children, run-away-teenagers who, because of being abandoned by family and government, were running away from everything and everybody, as if being choked to death. For these youth, we have set up a solidarity network which welcomes them, supports them and inserts them afresh into the family and society. We have The Red House which is the first center of acceptance for street children (the Pope would call it “the field hospital”).
Here, the children have colloquies with specialized personnel, encounters, therapies, consultations… The objective is to insert them back into their own family. When this is impossible, because the family situation has degenerated beyond any possibility of reconciliation and dialogue, the bigger ones are welcomed to The Yellow House and the smaller ones are admitted into The Brick House. Here, the youth are accompanied until completion of the school program and receipt of a diploma. Finally, the others who cannot go back to their parents nor wish to enter into any school, are inserted into the work environment: for them, there is The Green House. An average of 200 youth go through our program every year.
“Jolly good work!” I imagine you would say. And truly it is so. But, according to the official statistics of the city in which we live, every year there are about 2,000 boys/girls who abandon school and family: “run-away-children.” And where are these children who are not in their families, neither attend any school nor come to our welcoming centers? They are in the “no man’s land.” There, at any moment, they run the risk of being blown up, dramatically destroying their young lives by landmines like alcohol, prostitution, theft, violence, prison, abuse… In discovering this scary reality, we said to ourselves: “They are not coming to us. So we must go to them!”
This is how we have decided to leave the peripheries, too comfortable and easy for us, and go to those life areas threatened by landmines where about 1,800 youth are dangerously wandering about.
Thus, the AGIT Movement was born with a few things: a colorful van, a tent, two tables and four chairs… In the evening, from 7 o’clock to 2 in the morning, away we go, trodding along the death roads, desperately searching for such adolescents. We are not many, but all driven by a passionate love for the youth. Yes, you can say that we are all a bit crazy, but crazy for the love of them.
Personally, I can say that, from the moment we made this decision up to now, my sleep has been terribly cut short but my life has been expanded along new horizons which are, at the same time, dramatic and magnificent. In this “no man’s land,” where it appears there is no room even for God because it is crammed with violent brawls, sexual abuse of minors, suicidal drunkenness…I, like Moses near the burning bush in the desert, have found a new face of God – a God who tells me: “Take off your shoes because this is a holy place. Yes, though absurd, this is a holy place because God’s adored young children are here and He is here with them. He never abandons them. Therefore, I myself have decided to leave the peripheries and go beyond, to the “no man’s land” in order to be side by side with these young people.
On a dark and cold night, a tiny fifteen-year-old girl tied a small bracelet, made of humble cotton thread, to my arm. She said: “Every time you look at this gift, please, remember to pray for us.” And I, who hate any type of bracelets, rings or necklace… and do not even wear the beautiful, golden necklace that my dear parents gave me as a loving present on the day of my priestly ordination, always carry with me this poor bracelet of cotton thread because it ties me with love to many, too many young wo have been left to themselves.
AGIT follows Jesus’ style of leaving the ninety-nine sheep in the fold and went to look for the lost one among the dangerous mountain precipices. This is our mission…and may also become your commitment.
