The Whole Story - Ciudad Oculta - Our Story
My name is George Helland. My wife Robin and I met Steve and Mariel Voth in 1996 in the United States. We became close friends and ten years later we were their guests in Argentina. Our purpose was tourism, plain and simple. During our visit, we found ourselves drawn to learn more about their work and that led to the slum known as Ciudad Oculta. They explained that a daycare center was needed for the children and their very young mothers. If we could start with the youngest children, and if we could be there every day, with quality pre-school education and enrichment programs in those important early years of life, we might have a chance to watch at least some of these kids take control of their futures. Steve and Mariel hoped that such a program could provide adult role models of successful, happy, productive, caring people ready to meet life’s difficult challenges. Their wish was to sing the songs that children need to hear, to play the music that leaves impressions of a world of goodness and promise. And above all, they simply wanted to provide a safe place for parents to be with their children. If people like us, people living a life of abundance and security, could add to the love given each child by their parents with all the love we could find within ourselves, we might start to see changes for those living in Ciudad Oculta.
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We were moved by the enormous needs of these very young mothers and their children and by the compassion and dedication expressed by Steve and Mariel. We knew of their solid track record of assisting in the founding of two drug treatment centers and two rural schools, all of which continue serving their communities. The next day we toured Ciudad Oculta where we met the man who would become the director of the daycare, Jorge Tasin. Although he has a masters degree, the part of his resume that mattered most was that he has worked every day of the last 10 years in Ciudad Oculta. In Ciudad Oculta, he is a known and trusted counselor, helper, and friend.
Before making a commitment to the project, we asked the hard questions, the same questions any donor has. How would the money be used? Who would control funds raised? Would any one be paid for administration or fund raising or take a commission? Who would own the building? Who would actually run the project during construction? Who would lead the daycare? And, what is your team’s background in starting and running projects such as this? The right answers came back.
We gave them our pledge to raise the first phase of funding to acquire a building for the daycare center they envisioned.