In 1966, in the Independencia district of Santiago, the capital of Chile, the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul set up the ‘Regacito Intercultural Kindergarten’, a home for children living in precarious conditions and social exclusion.

This preschool now has 96 children aged 2 to 4, mainly from migrant families. Independencia has the highest migrant population rate in the country, with more than one person in two coming from elsewhere. The poverty rate is also higher than the national average.

"The predominant population in the municipality and in our kindergarten is the Venezuelan community, but we also welcome Peruvians, Colombians, Dominicans, Haitians, Congolese, Brazilians and others.
This is our intercultural footprint." Sr Cristina

Limited access to education and health care

There is strong demand for access to municipal kindergartens, which are very often saturated. In an environment marked by strong cultural diversity, integrating young children from a migrant background into the school system is a major challenge. They have difficulty adapting to the education system, with : 
- an increase in behavioural problems: excessive attachment to parents, difficulty staying in class, reduced attention span, reduced social interaction 
- limited access to specialist care, particularly for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

The lack of early diagnosis and appropriate treatment is an obstacle to children's learning and development. The lack of childcare professionals is an aggravating factor, as families have neither the financial means nor the availability to access care.

"What children experience in the first few years of life can have repercussions on their entire development." Sr Cristina

The project: Bringing in an occupational therapist to promote children's psycho-emotional and educational development

For 10 months, this professional will work closely with the educational team, the sisters and the children's parents to :

- detect and diagnose children's disorders and individual needs through assessments
- treating disorders through individual and group therapeutic interventions
- train and support educators and parents with appropriate strategies
- provide regular follow-up through interim and final reports.

Special room for occupational therapy

The beneficiaries are the 96 kindergarten children, but also indirectly the children's families, who will receive enhanced educational and emotional support.
This project will contribute to the inclusion of vulnerable children and ensure better access to healthcare and education from an early age.

"Children in good mental health have a better quality of life and are able to function well at home, at school and in their community." Sr Cristina

With Them, Thanks to You!