13 Houses Jubilee Project of Hope N°6 – Chile

In the city of Viña del Mar, the Naciones Unidas Camp has emerged, which is a settlement made up mostly of migrant families. After the devastating fire of February 2024, these families were left without homes, but not without hope. Accompanied by the Vincentian Family and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, a new chapter began: reconstruction.

From this spirit of solidarity, the “Pequeño Refugio” (meaning Little Refuge) was born. This is an initiative of the 13 Houses Jubilee project, which aims to provide a safe and dignified space for children under 10 years old. The project will allow their parents to rejoin the workforce, rebuild their finances, and restore dignity to their lives. The center will feature play areas and study rooms, all designed to support holistic care which meets physical, emotional and social needs. A common kitchen is also part of the support the VF has provided, fostering shared responsibility and nourishment within the community. The project has been developed with a systemic, modular, and sustainable approach, keeping in mind both the present and future of this community.

The voices of those who lead and live the project reflect its impact.

Ana María Jara, the Project Coordinator, shares:

“At the ‘Pequeño Refugio’, I have the beautiful task of accompanying and coordinating the steps we take as a community. My mission is to ensure that this project grows in a holistic way and, together with the Vincentian Family, to shape the activities that sustain it day by day.

What motivated me to be here was a very deep conviction: believing that when a safe and loving space is created for children, a door also opens for their mothers to work, dream, and build a fuller life for their families. That’s what drives me—to be part of a place where hope becomes action and dreams begin to take shape.”

Reflecting on the challenges, she shares:

“The greatest challenge has been to ignite that spark of belonging within the community—to help each family realize that this project is not just a place but an opportunity to grow together. We set out to open doors, to sit down and talk with the women. In each encounter, we didn’t just share information; we shared hope, tools, and trust so that each woman could discover her strength and worth. The ‘Pequeño Refugio’ stopped being ‘a project’ and became a living community.”

Speaking about the project’s impact, she adds:

“The implementation of the project has lit a spark because it’s not just about building spaces. It’s about opening paths for holistic development. Here, children find a safe place to grow and dream, and parents discover the possibility of working and creating new opportunities for their future.”

“Raising a project in the middle of a settlement—often made up of migrant families who arrived in search of hope—is like building a bridge where there were once barriers.

But the most beautiful thing about this project is that it doesn’t walk alone; it’s born from the joint effort of the Vincentian Family and the families in the neighborhood. And in that collaboration, something profound happens. Little by little, we stop being ‘them and us’ and become one community: dreaming together, working together, and caring for one another.”

She also shares some of the most meaningful moments:

“The bond I’ve been weaving with the families is very close. To truly understand them, I had to step into their world—listen to their stories, share in their days…”

“That’s when I understood something essential: that the true success of the project doesn’t depend on one person or one idea but on what we build together. Because when we come together, every step stops being small and becomes real change.”

And she concludes with a clear message:

“The deepest impact of this project lies in how it has opened doors of care and protection for children in communities facing great vulnerability. It has served as a bridge, fostering the integration of migrant families and slowly building a more united, aware, and hope-filled community.”

“We must never lose sight of the importance of social upliftment or the value of daring to dream and develop missionary projects with long-term impact. When there is genuine will and a Vincentian Family committed to working with the community, no challenge is impossible.”

From lived experience: a testimony from a beneficiary

Lorena Shirley Lozada Murillo, mother and beneficiary of the project, shares her story:

“Hello, my name is Lorena Shirley Lozada Murillo, I am 44 years old, and I am Colombian. I have a daughter named Danna, and she is 6 years old. I came to Chile 14 years ago in search of a better quality of life.”

About the hardest moments after the fire, she says:

“The hardest challenge with our children after the fire was the trauma. Knowing that we lost everything, not being in a stable place, spending some time in the shelter and then some time in the community, in the cold, without electricity, without water to go to school…but well, we’re overcoming all of it.”

Upon learning about the project, she felt renewed hope:

“We found out about the project through the Vincentian Family. They came to our community to help us rebuild our little homes after the fires. They realized that the children had nowhere to spend their free time and that the mothers couldn’t work.

That’s when, after several meetings and visits, this project was presented to us. We thought it was excellent—truly great—because it benefited everyone. It allowed several mothers to go to work while others stayed to care for the little ones. We believe it was the best project given to our community for our children.”

About its impact on daily life:

“The 13 Houses project left a mark on all of us, because now we have a very safe place for our little children to stay while the mothers work. This was a blessing for the whole community.”

And looking toward the future:

“My dream for our children with this project is to learn more about caregiving and to keep growing so we can teach them, because some children still can’t go to preschool due to lack of space. And if we, as caregiver moms, continue to grow, we can teach those little ones so much more.”

Finally, she shares a message for those facing similar situations:

“Have a lot of faith and believe in God, because there are still good people who care about others. I believe we are very blessed by everyone, thanks to the Vincentian Family, because without them, we wouldn’t have had this project. And for others who might be going through something like what we went through, don’t lose faith. The blessing will come at any moment. Thank you for everything.”

The “Pequeño Refugio” project is not just a building: it is an act of collective love. It reflects a community that rises, organizes, supports one another, and dares to dream. Where there were ashes, today a space of care, connection, and real transformation is growing.

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