The Casa de Niños Manuel Fernández Juncos is a home for vulnerable children in Puerto Rico

The children who come to the Casa de Niños in San Juan in Puerto Rico come from broken homes or families that have been rebuilt on more than one occasion, and in many cases they have been the victims of physical, verbal, psychological and/or sexual abuse. These children belong to a marginal socioeconomic stratum where the family income is not enough to cover their basic needs, they are behind in their education and not integrated into the life of their community. 

This educational lag, their traumatic life experiences and the socioeconomic environment they come from put these children and young people at a disadvantage when it comes to schooling, and as a result, they are no longer motivated to enter the formal education system. 

The goal of the Casa de Niños Manuel Fernández Juncos project is to fully restore their rights by creating a family space where they can find the basic services they need until they attain an adequate standard of living. In addition, whenever possible, work is undertaken to re-establish family ties. In cases where this is not possible, the children are prepared to live independent lives.

Formal education at all levels is also encouraged. The organization offers educational scholarships and integral development to these children and young people, from 8 to 18 years of age, allowing them to attend public schools where they find a safer school environment and improve their academic performance. 

The Casa de Niños helps to motivate, support and sustain the learning acquired, allowing the children to develop new social skills and interact in a welcoming, gratifying and stimulating environment that encourages them to reach new goals according to their likes and abilities