DEVELOPMENT-ARGENTINA: Woman Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

By Marcela Valente Reprint | | Print |

Marcela Valente

BUENOS AIRES, May 16 1999 (IPS) - An Argentinian woman who has worked since 1985 to promote the creation of day homes for children from poor families has been nominated by a British group for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Ana Mon, lawyer and director of the Argentinian Federation for Family Support, has opened 107 homes for 5,000 children between the ages of three and 13.

In the homes, children receive food, clothing, preventative health services, recreation, help with schoolwork and practical training. The homes also offer support to help parents with their problems.

From vaccines for the children, to parents dealing with drug addiction or alcoholism, to unemployment and domestic violence, there is no issue the children’s homes haven’t seen.

The organisation is supported by donations from individuals, corporations, embassies and international entities. One such organisation, the Scott Badder Foundation of Great Britain, urged the British Community of Nations to nominate Mon as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mon’s nomination also has the support of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, as well as support from public and private organisations in countries such as Belgium, the United States, Israel and Japan, among others.

Mon, president and founder of the Federation, told IPS that the children’s homes are “autonomous, private and ecumenical” whether inside or outside Argentina. The homes are reproducing rapidly – there are 50 under construction in Argentina alone.

Modelled on the homes in Argentina, similar children’s homes have been created in other Latin American countries, including one in Uruguay, three in Peru, four in Mexico and one in Venezuela. In Bolivia, plans are in the works for 17 centres, said Mon.

Mon works in a tiny office, stacked high with papers. Her simple and transparent work style has been key in winning the support of her benefactors.

The 107 centres in Argentina are different sizes, depending on local needs and financial support they receive. Some centres have the capacity to house between 60 and 250 children. A total of 200,000 dollars is needed by the homes annually to function.

The Latin American Federations will have their first meeting May 28 through 31 in Peru to talk about their experiences and to create a regional organisation.

Mon explained how the Federation in Argentina goes about setting up the homes. Groups of 25 or 30 people “with social sensitivity” are brought together in poor areas, and receive training in how to find a locale, how to obtain and maintain financial resources and donations and how to work with children.

From that point, they select a management commission of people who work a s volunteers – like Mon – in each Casa del Niño (Children’s Home). The commission then hires cooks, teachers, psychologists, social workers, doctors and dentists.

The Federation is based in La Plata, 50 kilometres south of Argentina’s capital city, Buenos Aires. From there, the Foundation helps with the creation of new centres, but only sends funds to established homes in the country’s interior in cases of “emergency.”

The Federation does not receive government funds, though in many cases th e Casa del Niño is able to provide scholarships and free food for the children in its care.

At age 50 and with five children of her own, Mon created the first children’s home in 1985 with the help of a group of professional friends. The impetus for the project occurred days earlier, when Mon had been shocked to find a group of children rummaging in the garbage near her house.

“We realise that this is just a drop in the bucket, we also know that we won’t be able to prevent hunger in the universe, but from where we stand, if we have clear objectives, we can do so much to help others,” she affirmed.

Mon recognises that her nomination before the Norwegian Parliament is an exceptional pat on the back for the children’s homes. She is already planning to open more homes throughout Argentina with the prize money she hopes to win.

Two other Argentinians have won the Nobel Peace Prize in the past.

Chancellor Carlos Saavedra Lamas won the prize in 1936 for his work in brokering peace in the war between Bolivia and Paraguay. In 1980, Adolfo Perez Esquivel received the prize for his human rights work during Argentina’s military dictatorship (1976-1983).

“We need to work harder in prevention,” proclaimed Mon from the “trenches,” taking advantage of what she called this “surprising” opportunity, which last week landed her on the front page of Clarin, the largest newspaper in Argentina.

For this Nobel nominated lawyer, the best hope for her work is that children have a future and can grow and develop in a society based on the work of non-governmental organisations, “because we work faster, more simply, more efficiently, and with better results” than the government.