Nazareth College, Alicante

Nazareth College, Alicante
Colegio Nazaret, Alicante
Location
Alicante, Spain
Information
Type Jesuit, Catholic
Denomination All faiths
Established 1957 (1957)
Director Leoncio Calvo Gómez
Gender Coeducational
Other name Center for Educational Action Singular (CAES)
Founder Francisco Javier Fontova, SJ
Website NazColAlicante

Nazareth College, Alicante, is a work that was initiated by the Society of Jesus in 1957 to tend to the educational and other needs of at-risk youth and their families in the community of Alicante, Spain.

History

In September 1957, Jesuit Fr. Francisco Javier Fontova initiated Nazareth in response to the minors with problems of social marginalization in Alicante. He began by feeding 32 children, two of whom lived at the facility. The "Catholic Mothers" of the Marian Congregation helped with teaching the children.[1] Fontova became known as the Quijote of Alicante, as he began his own radio program and was soon feeding a hundred children.

By 1977 there were 190 boys aged 5 to 17 living in the boarding school, with 4 teachers. Then for better integration of the youngsters into the community, the massive boarding school was broken up into more family-like living, beginning in 1984 with Garbinet house and adding San Blas house in 1998 and an apartment in 2000. San Agustín was opened in 2001, Opening Bridge Apartment in 2005, and Florida flats replaced Garbinet house in 2006. These now accommodate 38 minors ages 6 through 18 years. Support staff includes 40 professionals in the areas of daily life, psychology, social work, and family support. Efforts are made to assist the families and to return the youth to their homes or to avail them of other social services.[2]

Nazareth has grown to include youth and family programs and the school CAES (Center for Educational Action Singular). CAES assists primary and secondary level children experiencing failure or suspension, or coping with environments of risk and social exclusion. The Ignatian pedagogical paradigm is adapted to the personal and professional needs of students, leading to their insertion in the labor market from the age of 16. Fundamental to the program is a tutorial approach that fosters social skills, positive relationships, and social integration.[3][4] The Mayor of Alicante Luis Díaz Alperi commented: "The work of Fontova continues as alive as when he collected about thirty children in the dining room of the old Marian Congregation of Calle San Telmo giving rise to a great work that has endured to the present." The story is told in detail in reminiscences of former students and in a book summarizing its first 40 years.[5]

Nazareth is today a social response to exclusion and its devastating effects on families and minors. Because of its flexibility and ability to adapt to social changes like migration and new challenges, Nazareth responds to present and future needs for solidarity and social justice.[6]

Programs

CENTER OF LIFE serves 37 to 42 boys and girls ages 6 to 18 in 5 residences. In addition, the emancipation program houses youth who are already of age but need protection.[7]

CAES DAY CENTER serves 180 boys and girls 6 to 18[8] with a school and cafeteria.[7] The Nazareth center includes six concerted units in compulsory primary education, a unit to support integration, and four concerted units of Compulsory Secondary Education (2 first cycle and 2 second cycle).[9]

The Day Center includes many programs: Tutorial Action Plan, Personal Hygiene Program, MUS-E Program (bringing the arts closer to the most disadvantaged), Drug Addiction Prevention Program, Swimming Program with the Alicante City Council, and workshops (crafts, electricity,[10] carpentry, mechanics, informatics, radio, driving, audiovisuals,[11] and leatherwork), the Program of Labor insertion, a department that assists the families to reinforce the Center's programs, and a Guidance Department.[12] CAES receives help from the alumni of other Jesuit insititutions[13][14] as well as from large corporations[15][16] and from groups like the Rotary Club.[17]

FAMILY PROGRAMS serves 200 families with more than 300 children with help from professionals and from the city councils of Alicante and San Vicente del Raspeig and from Mutxamel.[18] Included are the training of women to detect and avoid risk situations for the child from early on.[7] Nazaret also collaborates as a supplementary service to support the family and children through the Family Education Program and Program of Action for Pregnant Women and Families with at-risk children from 0 to 3 years of age.[6]

OPEN YOUTH PROGRAMS is regularly serving about 100 youth ages 16 to 24, bringing services directly to their homes and neighborhoods.[4] Assistance includes a labor insertion and business prospecting program[19] and an emancipation program at Bridge House which accompanies young people who have grown up in the protected environment of the center and need help to transition to independent living.[7]

References

  1. NAZARET, Monthly publication of the "Child Crusade of Charity" (1957).
  2. "Centro de Vida | Nazaret". www.nazaretalicante.com. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  3. Administrador. "Colegio Nazaret (Alicante)". www.educacionjesuitas.es. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  4. 1 2 "Quiénes somos | Nazaret". www.nazaretalicante.com. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  5. Sánchez, SJ, Jesús Royo. History of Nazareth. 40 years of history in Alicante.
  6. 1 2 "Programas de familia | Nazaret". www.nazaretalicante.com. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Nazaret". www.nazaretalicante.es. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  8. "Colegio Nazaret de Alicante". abc (in Spanish). 2015-02-22. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  9. "Colegio Nazaret. Centro de Acción Educativa Singular - edujesuit". edujesuit (in Spanish). Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  10. "Aula Urbana » Descubre tu talento "Cómo funcionan las cosas" Colegio Nazaret (Alicante)". aulaurbana.umh.es. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  11. "Colegio Nazaret | Festival Internacional de Cine de Alicante". www.festivaldealicante.com. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  12. "Centro de día – Escuela | Nazaret". www.nazaretalicante.com. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  13. "Campaña de recogida de Ordenadores para NAZARET". Asociación Antiguos Alumnos Jesuitas Alicante (in Spanish). 2015-10-28. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  14. INFORMACION. "Carrera popular para colaborar con la fundación del Colegio Nazaret de Alicante". Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  15. "Danplac comienza a colaborar con el Colegio Nazaret - Danplac". Danplac (in Spanish). 2016-12-15. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  16. "Computer Donation to Fight the Technological Gap - CAFM + CMMS + EAM | Rosmiman Asset Management Software". CAFM + CMMS + EAM | Rosmiman Asset Management Software (in Spanish). 2016-01-05. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  17. "- Visita al Colegio Nazaret - Rotary Club Alicante Puerto". Rotary Club Alicante Puerto (in Spanish). 2013-02-27. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  18. "¿Qué es Nazaret? - Nazaret, fundación del P. Fontova". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  19. "Programa de juventud en medio abierto | Nazaret". www.nazaretalicante.com. Retrieved 2017-01-02.

Coordinates: 38°21′35.65″N 0°29′57.2″W / 38.3599028°N 0.499222°W / 38.3599028; -0.499222

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