"El Abrigo", translated "The House of Shelter and Care", is a wonderful facility operated by a group of Mennonites in Asuncion, Paraguay. The shelter is designed for street kids and provides a loving, predictable atmosphere in which young children thrive. Street kids are defined by El Abrigo as those children who have a family but who spend the majority of their time on the streets, away from that family. Three children from the Chacarita, who are sponsored by families in the U.S., have been placed at El Abrigo due to their very difficult family situations. These children have, in a very short time, gone from living in physically and emotionally unhealthy environments to daily exposure in a clean, loving environment rich with the sound of childrens' laughter.

El Abrigo houses boys and girls ages 6-13 in clean, well kept rooms equipped with showers, toilets, bunk beds and desks for studying. The staff at the shelter use a point system with the children to motivate appropriate behavior.

Points are given for cleanliness, cooperation with others, following rules and acceptable behavior. This system seems to work well for the children because they know what is expected of them. Consequences for compliance are rewards such as a field trip, video, time with friends, etc. Each child attends a nearby national school and is given any needed help with schoolwork in a structured setting after school hours at the shelter. The dream of the administration and staff at El Abrigo is to build a school on the existing grounds.