Elena Duron Miranda: Giving Children a Childhood    [28-10-2011] Eleven years ago, Mexican psychologist Elena Duron Miranda was conducting research in Bariloche, Argentina. During her trip, she saw a sad scene of nearly 200 children picking through a garbage dump to find food. Some of the children were as young as three years old. The city is enjoyed by tourists. Unfortunately, many children living in Bariloche are forced to quit school to help their families. As a mother, seeing children in such awful need led Duron Miranda to stay in Argentina to help out. She began a nonprofit organization called PETISOS (Prevention and Eradication of Child Labor SOS). To begin her work, Duron Miranda looked at the cause of the problem. She set up a camp inside the dump, so she could work closely with the children. She watched their actions, and even participated in picking through trash, too! Over time, she won the trust of nervous families and children. Although Argentina does not allow child labor, the International Labor Organization국제노동기구 said that many kids end up working as unpaid laborers. Their parents do not want them to be child workers, but the children begin working to help make money. PETISOS finds children in need, and puts them in school. A group of people track the students, and make sure they are going to school every day. After-school programs and extracurricular activities are offered to students. The students and their families also gain access to psychologists, doctors, and social workers. Parents and guardians are trained for different jobs and get parenting support. Funded by grants and donations, PETISOS has helped hundreds of children and families living in poverty. Many of the students have gone on to finish school, and have started families of their own. Duron Miranda thinks the education gained from her program is setting an example for how to raise children. She believes it is important to break the habits of an upsetting childhood, and help kids grow in a safe environment. “I think that’s our greatest success to date,” said Duron Miranda about the project she founded. Her outlook is bright. She understands that the children are living in bad situations, and are struggling with pain. Nevertheless, Elena Duron Miranda is turning their pain into purpose.     출처: 어린이 영자신문 키즈타임즈 (www.kidstimes.net)