First step

The José de Paiva Netto Educational and Cultural Institute of the LBV of Uruguay, in Montevideo, has an important role in the lives of many families. The story of Alana Yamila Reyna Rodríguez, 28, illustrates this statement well. When this mother of two boys separated from the children’s father, she found herself with no income and relying on the help of her relatives to survive. Her life began to change when she received the support from the Organization. “Before my kids started their activities in the LBV it was very difficult for me to go out to work. I had no one to look after them. My life and theirs has really changed since they’ve been in the Institute,” she said.

Currently, her older son Ezequiel, 7, is taking part in the Children: the Future in the Present! program, and Kevin, 4, is studying at the Jesus Nursery School.

The next step for Alana was understanding that she could transform her reality. “Fortunately we receive a lot of support from the Legion of Good Will. We attend talks and workshops that are doing us a lot of good and there we women can express ourselves.” And she adds: “Today I am working at a fruit and vegetable stand while they [the children] are at the LBV. As soon as I’m done I go and pick them up and we go straight home where they get all the attention they need from me.”