Tendetza, like all the children and educators of the Salesian farm school, is 14 years old. “I don't know anything about my past and I have almost no memory. I only know that I am from the city of Macas thanks to my identity card and the names of my father and mother, but I do not know them”says Henri.
“My last name is a mixture of Spanish and Achuar. I have many friends here and I like what I do and what I learn, ”says the young man, gaining confidence as he speaks. He is a year away from starting his Baccalaureate, and growing up his dreams have also changed: “When I was little I wanted to be a football goalkeeper, but now that I attend a technical school I want to go to university and have a military career, because having a degree also means being able to have a higher degree” he says.
Sport is fundamental for education at the Salesian work in Ambato: “Every Friday I play football, but my dream is no longer football, but to be someone in life and leave my mark. I can imagine many years from now with my wife and children.”
Henri is the leader of a group of boys from the agricultural school. “Here they teach us to be self-sufficient for tomorrow. We do what we call ‘Citizenship Schools’. I applied to be a leader and took a two-year course. I am also a mediator between young people and educators, and I try to find solutions to the problems that arise on a daily basis” he explains.
On Mondays and Fridays Henri studies in a technical school. He enjoys helping in the kitchen and also collaborates in the cleaning of the rooms. On weekends, the farm school program is transformed with Salesian activities: “We go for walks, have catechism and oratory. They talk to us about our rights and we put into practice what we have learned so that we can provide for ourselves in the future.”
At the Don Bosco agricultural school all the young people regain part of their lost childhood. They arrive there following a court ruling and receive affection, medical and psychological care and are able to make up for their lost schooling in order to continue studying. The ultimate goal is reintegration into the family or adoption. Young Tendentza knows this, and that is why “I want to be adopted at the age of 18 to help me realise my dream and become a good person.”
Henri's right hand still bears the marks of some burns, but he says, “I don't even remember this. Sometimes I dream about it, but I don't know when or what happened.” What is clear to him is that “I would like to meet my family, even if they have not been close to me. I have a distant memory, when they paid me a visit, I was 5 or 6 years old and I recognised them instinctively” he concludes.
Source: Salesian Missions
