Mita’s Foundation began supporting Centro Juvenil Santa Margarita (Youth Center Santa Margarita) where young girls between the ages of 11 and 17 come from extremely difficult backgrounds and are currently detained for a range of offenses, including drug-related charges, armed robbery and, in some cases, acts committed against their own abusers. Many have experienced abandonment, trauma and a lack of guidance from an early age.
Among the 89 girls, there are 10 children living with their mothers, and two girls were expecting. Under current regulations, children may remain with their mothers until the age of three. After that, if no family support is available, they may be placed in orphanages. There are also a small number of foreign minors whose crimes are not public.
Despite being a detention center, Santa Margarita is also a place of rehabilitation and hope. The girls, who are of school age, recently resumed their education, aligning with the national academic calendar. A significant positive aspect of the program is that young mothers are allowed to remain with their children during their early developmental years.
Since 2025, Mita’s Foundation is proud to collaborate with the center by providing year-round workshops and support. Our initiatives include hands-on workshops such as creating jewelry boxes; training in practical skills, including basic furniture-making using melamine (their work is extremely supervised when working with tools and sharp objects); pastry-making workshops, giving the girls valuable, income-generating skills they can use after their release to build a stable future and support their children; and teaching the girls how to build their own personal lockers (due to safety regulations, they are not permitted to keep items such as pens or sharp objects in their rooms). Providing lockers will allow them to safely store their belongings with dignity and responsibility.
With the funds we raise during our 5K and gala, we are able to donate school supplies in preparation for the academic year and essential items for both the girls and their children.
There is no greater reward than dedicating our time to serve these young girls, who need guidance, compassion, and opportunity. We are especially grateful to Team Mita’s Lima for their careful planning and coordination, which allowed us to meet with the administration and carry out our mission within established guidelines.
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