Foster families offer an everyday environment that cannot be replaced by a residential center
The experience accumulated over the course of these five years since the opening of the Residential Educational Action Center Travertí, in Pla de l'Estany, has made us value very positively the specific collaborations with families in the territory. Which spontaneously offer our children and young people the opportunity to enjoy family leisure activities or occasional stays, which allow them to live first-hand the experience of relating to a stable family context.
Undoubtedly, this collaboration provides meaning both to the lives of children and young people, as well as to the welcoming people, establishing unconditional emotional bonds, which emotionally enriches the whole core.
In this post, we would like to share the experience of a family that started collaborating with us on a one-off basis and ended up being a permanent foster family for a child in a vulnerable situation.
"Our son, our daughter and Fik went to the same school. Despite there being a big age difference between them, the fact that they have hobbies in common brought us closer. The first meetings were permits as a friendly family, that is to say, without administrative procedures, only by mutual agreement between the boy, the center and us.
The beginning was the result of chance, and a bit of restlessness and sensitivity towards this educational task that is so necessary
We started by inviting him to come one day for lunch and to spend the afternoon together, to go on excursions or activities, to watch football matches in the village, etc. Until with the confidence and knowing that we were all good together, the overnight stays arrived: weekend permits, some bridge, and summer vacation days at the campsite. Most of the time, just spending the weekend together, without doing anything exceptional, was already a party for us and especially for our children.
It was then that we took the step towards regularizing the situation, and applied to become a collaborating family.
It has been easy for us because we have found a young man who is very willing, cooperative, familiar, honest, open to our family environment and also to our circle of friends. A boy who has been able to be part of our dynamic on all occasions and without any pretension or complex. In many situations he has been a mirror for our children, and when he has made a mistake, we have been able to talk about it together, and it has also been a learning experience for them.
At all times we have had the support of the CRAE Travertí team of professionals, and this has also been key for this experience to have been profitable for all parties.
Throughout these five years (from 11 to 16), we have been clear to respect their will at the same time as permission, since these are ages where their interests are changing. We are now beginning to see the end of this stage, and we hope that it will give way to a more autonomous and adult relationship; that he tells us how he is doing, that we stay from time to time to have a touch or share a meal. But above all, what we wish to have built these years is a great memory for him, and for him to know that we are by his side for whatever he may need, whenever he feels like it.
For us, being a collaborative family has allowed us to get to know other realities, while also giving us dynamism. On the other hand, it is very gratifying to be able to be another point of support in their guardianship process, to acquire new learning and to anticipate situations that we will experience with our youngest children. All in all, we've had a lot of fun with unique moments that have created a true bond. In short, it is an experience that has undoubtedly added to our family life and that we are very grateful to be able to experience."
Joana Lorenzo and Cantalejo
Director of CRAE Travertí, Porqueres. Plan de l'Estany. Suara Cooperative Diploma in Social Education and Pedagogy. 27 years of experience accompanying people in vulnerable situations.
