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The story of... PACO
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Like many of JUCONI's children, Paco lived on the outskirts of the city of Puebla. He was
the oldest of two children and lived with his parents, grandparents, and other relatives in
a household whose income was only about 4 dollars daily. When he was just 5, his mother
left the family and shortly afterwards, they received news of her death. His father turned
to alcohol and became even more violent toward his children. Paco began spending as much
time as he could on the street, though on returning he would be brutally beaten by his
father and left without food for several days at a time. At the age of 10, when his father
went to the United States leaving the family destitute, Paco left for the street and did
not return.
We met Paco, when he was 11 years old, in the State Detention Center where he was being
held for breaking and entering and robbery. After three months of working with JUCONI´s
educator, Paco realized that the street was not a good option for his future and that
through some effort he could achieve a better life. With some trepidation, he made the
decision to move to Casa JUCONI, (Juconi House) part of him wanted a safe home, but a
large part was fearful of the changes involved.
The principles and routine that guide daily life in Casa JUCONI are designed to create a
secure, predictable and caring environment. The house is a very ordered place where each
activity has a purpose, the complete opposite of the chaos that street involved children
have experienced throughout their lives. Paco adapted well to this new lifestyle and
began to assume responsibility for domestic chores, such as washing his clothes and
helping in the kitchen, and developed good health and hygiene habits.
However, he had major problems in participating in the educational program; he'd never been
to school and was completely illiterate. If he couldn't accomplish a task first go, he'd
give up and run off. When working in small groups, the least challenge would provoke an
angry and violent outbreak directed at himself and others. We decided that Paco needed
individual therapy, a special educational plan and one on one tutoring.
During this time, JUCONI's family team, (an educator and family therapist) contacted Paco's
grandmother and began to visit her weekly to engage her and the rest of the family in
intensive therapy. Through much work, we helped the grandmother resolve enough of her
own emotional problems to be able to see that Paco needed her support. She began visiting
him in Casa JUCONI, and Paco established an affectionate relationship with her and his
sister giving him the stability he needed to be able to focus on himself and his
studies.
With this support, Paco rapidly began to show great advances, learning to read and write.
At almost 13 years old, he was ready to start school for the first time in his life and
he entered third grade. He continued progressing, was emotionally very stable with good
coping skills; he participated much more in groups and actively visited with his
grandmother. After some time, his progress in school accelerated and his development
was so good and his grades so high that he passed all his exams and was ready to complete
the 4th grade. But in the middle of the school year, his father was shot and killed in
the United States and his body was returned to Mexico. Paco attended the funeral along
with JUCONI educators, but it was a hurtful time as he inevitably came up against painful
memories of his family and the past they shared.
The JUCONI educators had to redouble their efforts on all fronts with Paco, as his
emotional turmoil was reflected in violent outbursts at school leading to him being
temporarily expelled and anti-social behaviour in the house. Paco was guided through
this difficult time through individual and group therapy which eventually enabled him
to be able to review the events in his past and identify them as the source of his anger
and frustration. With Juconi helping him to recognize the injustice of his childhood
and showing him ways of expressing his anger in ways that were not harmful to him, Paco
came to understand that he had a choice. He could continue to allow the painful past to
dominate his present or come to terms with it and move on.
It was yet another difficult moment in his life, and in Juconi´s as we strove to put into
practice the recommendations made by our external advirorsto provide the quality of
attention that would see Paco safely through this. At this point Paco was not sure which
way he wanted to go and was unpredictable, moody and morose a lot of the time, it was
essential for Juconi to show trust in his ability to move forward. So besides therapeutic
sessions, Paco was made captain of the football team and also began participating in the
Work Culture Project, (a workshop designed to help youngsters acquire the work skills
and attitude essential for holding down a job and getting on in the working world),
activities we felt he would do well at.
Paco's success in these activities, (he was able to enroll on a metalwork course given by
Volkswagen, where his teachers considered him very enthusiastic and cooperative),
reaffirmed his self esteem and helped him to finally visualize a future and to set
himself the goals of finishing his studies and obtaining a job in the formal sector.
Paco graduated from JUCONI House earlier this year and now lives in the Youth House; he
has begun his secondary education and has both short term and long term goals, including
becoming an architect and having his own family. He has confidence in his future and
undoubtedly will become a productive and positive force in society.
Note: JUCONI Foundation has Paco's consent to tell his
story; his name has been changed to afford a measure of privacy.
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