Our History…
City Refuge was founded in 2003 by Ignacio (Nacho) Gomez. He started working in the city garbage dump, visiting the people living there and bringing them food, clothes, and medicine. The volunteers involved have also walked the city streets with prostitutes and transvestites in the early mornings, sharing the Kingdom of God with them.
Sharing the good news of Christ
In 2005 Nacho married Renata and together they continued to push forward in Mercy Ministries. In 2007 the garbage dump outreach had to be suspended due to lack of transportation. They began volunteering with EDDIM.
People with Handicaps
We have been working, since May 2005, with a public foundation called EDDIM that helps to rehabilitate and reinsert people with handicaps into society. People with different levels of capacity, with Downs Syndrome, brain damage, and other difficulties are amongst the clients of this foundation.
A group of the people from EDDIM
Our work is mainly with the younger people and their parents who are frequently influenced by a climate of hopelessness, suffering, guilt, and pain after trying to help so many times yet without seeing any positive changes at all. We try to bring them hope, and give them a rest from the constant care of their children during the week, loving both them and their children in each of the activities in which we are involved.
One of the guys who is very happy to see us
The most common and practical forms of help that we provide are in the areas of psychological help, manual labor activities, swimming training in the pool, physical education, and inter-city events and games.
Helping with exercises in the pool
Today…
Our mercy ministries team. L to R: Nacho, Renata, Lilian, Yolanda, Carol, Eli, Dawelky, and Facundo
Now in 2011 we are a group of 8 committed volunteers that continue to collaborate with EDDIM.
Where we’re headed…
We’d like to have a refuge house in the city to home people living in emergency situations (such as homelessness, family violence, or addictions). This way they would have a temporary place to stay and receive emotional and spiritual help. We hope to have collaboration of other government organizations to help them integrate in society.
This house would also serve as a space to offer art and drama workshops and language classes for children and youth.
If you would like to get involved as a volunteer, donor, or to find out more information contact the office, or Nacho and Renata.