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Learn More About Mil Abrazos

 

What is Mil Abrazos and how does it work?

Mil Abrazos is Spanish for ‘a thousand hugs.’ We thought this was a good name for our annual online fundraising campaign for a couple of reasons. When children enter the ProNiño centers, they have already been through a lot. Many of their lives, even those as young as 6 or 7, have been touched by violence, neglect and abuse. Despite all this, the children are incredibly affectionate and simply want someone to listen and sincerely care about them. In short, a hug.

 

While many of our supporters are able to visit the centers each year, most try to stay in touch through letters, videos and pictures. We thought this would be a great way for those that care enough to support the children in ProNiño to send down ‘a thousand hugs.’ However, instead of only a thousand, our goal this year is to send forty thousand hugs to ProNiño through the Mil Abrazos campaign. We’re grateful for your support!  

 

How can I participate?

There are several ways to participate in the campaign. We’re looking for fundraisers to contact potential donors, people to recruit additional fundraisers and of course, donors to the campaign.

 

We made it even easier this year to become a fundraiser for the Mil Abrazos campaign.

 

  1. Go to http://www.firstgiving.com/pronino/mil-abrazos-a-thousand-hugs
  2. Click Fundraise and register with FirstGiving
  3. Customize your fundraising page with a story, fundraising goal, pictures, videos and a thank you message (we’ve made this simple by providing a default template to use!) – this allows you to collect donations online and track your fundraising progress.
  4. Share your page through email, Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets
  5. Download our fundraising toolkit for more ideas on how to meet your goal
  6. Have fun raising awareness, support, and money for ProNiño USA! Earn cool prizes for raising at the $100, $250, $500, $1,000, $2,500 or $5,000 level. (See our Incentive Flyer)
  7. Send a personal Thank-you e-mail or follow-up communications (Formal Thank you Letters and Receipts will automatically be sent to donors- you won’t need to do any of this)

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    About ProNiño USA

     

    A registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization, ProNiño USA is dedicated to providing brighter futures for Latin American Street Children. For over a decade ProNiño USA has partnered with Fundación Proniño in El Progreso, Yoro, Honduras, now operating four twenty-four hour live in centers which offer comprehensive care and support to approximately 80 boys and young men. Grounded in the Bosconia model, the program is structured in progressive phases, providing rehabilitation services to street children based on the child's willingness to improve and level of development.

     

    Who are these street children?

    Many children turn to the streets to escape extreme poverty, neglect, or an abusive home life. Others reside in the streets as a result of abandonment or the loss of one or both parents. There they fall victim to hunger, physical and sexual abuse, drug addiction, and gang violence. Most street kids huff cheap and readily available toluene-based glue as it provides an escape from this harsh reality and eases their hunger while causing extensive neurological damage.

     

    A typical day for a street child consists of awaking on a cardboard box, stealing or begging for a single meal, huffing glue, and hoping to survive another night. With no education, few marketable skills, and poor health they face a very difficult future.

     

     

    How do they enter the ProNiño program?

    Due to the lack of social services ProNiño provides a last resort for these children. Some arrive at the direction of the police or local juvenile court, most come of their own volition through street-level outreach.

     

    How does ProNiño help the boys?

    The program provides comprehensive support beginning with three nutritious meals a day, a safe place to live, and the love and guidance from caring adults essential for a child’s healthy development. From there, through four phases ProNiño assists the child through his rehabilitation process.

     

    At Nueva Vida (New Life) the children learn to play, work, and interact constructively, and to adhere to discipline and structure…new concepts for a child straight from the street. Also at Nueva Vida the children receive detoxification treatment in the form of sauna therapy and dietary supplements.

     

    Then at Los Vencedores the boys learn to replace negative patterns with positive activities. ProNiño provides counseling to help the boys deal with a myriad of problems resulting from street-life. Receiving individual attention, the boys are prepared to be integrated into schools and with other children their own age.

     

    At Amor y Paz (Love and Peace), boys attend local schools, receive educational support and further their progress.

     

    Finally, at Grandes Heroes the now young men receive vocational training in addition to classroom education. ProNiño supports their transition to independent living through help in job placement and finding housing.

 
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