“We feel very much from the neighborhood. We were born here and we continue to have a large number of members and donors from the area,” explains its director.
Since her arrival as director of the Hogar de San José Foundation, at the beginning of 2024, Cristina Avella faces the challenge with enthusiasm and a clear social vocation. “I have always worked in this field and it is a bit of that vocation for service that I have,” he says. Under his leadership, the entity, located in the Natahoyo neighborhood in Gijón, maintains its commitment to minors in vulnerable situations, with an educational model focused on safe accompaniment and repairing damage. A work that has been recognized with the miGijón 2024 Award.
Avella highlights that the Foundation’s approach is based on building safe relationships to overcome the impact of violence, abandonment and the lack of family references that minors have suffered. “We accompany minors to establish a safe relationship, a safe environment with them and accompany them throughout their childhood,” he explains.
Furthermore, the recent opening of a new building has allowed this model to be implemented optimally. “A model like ours, which is an example throughout Asturias, could not be carried out without a new building. Now the minors have their own room and live in an environment that is more like a family,” he points out.
One of the key points is the preparation of young people to be independent. The Foundation has a specific resource for adolescents from 16 to 18 years old and a youth program that accompanies them beyond 18. “We want to be a reference at that stage. We continue to help them with housing, work and employability. It is essential that this program continues to grow,” he emphasizes.
With more than 75 years of history, the Foundation maintains a strong connection with the Natahoyo neighborhood. “We feel very much from the neighborhood. We were born here and we continue to have a large number of members and donors from the area,” says Avella. In addition, networking with platforms such as EAPN, the Childhood Platform and REDmimbre stands out, which brings together Jesuit entities from across the country dedicated to children and youth.
Although the residential program is agreed with the Ministry of Social Rights and Welfare, the Foundation seeks to reinforce private financing to support initiatives such as the youth program. “It is always important to increase private financing. The expenses are many, and programs like the youth program do not have stable financing,” he explains.
Regarding the future of the old building, Avella points out the intention to give it a new use that will generate income for other projects. “We want to make it available for rent or other uses, because it does not meet the quality standards of the new educational model,” he says.
With a staff of more than 50 workers and an involvement that goes beyond the professional, the Hogar de San José Foundation continues to be an example of solidarity, innovation and commitment to minors in vulnerable situations.
How does the Hogar de San José Foundation’s holistic approach address the specific needs of children who have experienced trauma?
## Finding Hope in Natahoyo: Hogar de San José Wins miGijón 2024 Award
The Hogar de San José Foundation, a beacon of hope for vulnerable children in Gijón, recently received the prestigious miGijón 2024 Award, a testament to their unwavering commitment to providing a safe and nurturing environment for youth who have experienced trauma.
Under the passionate leadership of Cristina Avella, who took the helm as director at the beginning of 2024, the foundation continues its vital mission in the Natahoyo neighborhood.
“We feel very much from the neighborhood. We were born here and we continue to have a large number of members and donors from the area,” explains Avella.
Driven by a strong social vocation, Avella emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to supporting these children.
The foundation’s model focuses on fostering safe, trusting relationships to counter the profound effects of violence, abandonment, and the absence of stable familial support.
“We accompany minors to establish a safe relationship, a safe environment with them and accompany them throughout their childhood,” Avella explains.
The recent inauguration of a new building has been instrumental in enhancing the quality of care provided by the foundation. This spacious facility allows each child to have their own room, mirroring a more typical family setting.
“A model like ours, which is an example throughout Asturias, could not be carried out without a new building. Now the minors have their own room and live in an environment that is more like a family,” Avella adds.
Notably, the foundation places particular emphasis on preparing young people for independent living through educational and life skills programs. While the specifics of these initiatives are not detailed in the provided text, the foundation’s commitment to equipping these children with the tools for a successful future is evident.
The miGijón 2024 Award is a well-deserved recognition of the Hogar de San José Foundation’s impactful work. Their dedication to creating a safe haven for vulnerable minors while equipping them for a brighter future stands as a shining example of compassion and community support.
