Romana

Each Saturday a group of young women volunteers from the University of the Andes dedicates several hours to the women and children in San Roman, a district south of Santiago de Chile. It all began in 2009 when a priest from the area contacted a student at the university who was teaching catechism to children there. He asked if she would be willing to help organize the Padre Pio soup kitchen in San Ramón, which in addition to serving homeless adults also provides social services to women and children. He needed people who could help foster a cheerful atmosphere there and care for the people.

From that moment on, a group of students from the University of the Andes have been going to the soup kitchen to help out in various activities, including cooking, serving food, washing dishes, and accompanying the people there. The volunteers also seek to provide needed clothing, and basic health and hygiene care, first aid, manicures, hair dressing, games and recreation. All their efforts are aimed at meeting the material needs and easing the loneliness and abandonment of these people.