I was a professional hairdresser for over 25 years. Due to an unfortunate turn of events, I lost everything and went through a very rough time. I asked for help at the Municipality and they directed me to take a course at FEDES.

I took a course in dressmaking at the FEDES Vocational Training School and I learned a lot in it. The team of teachers is excellent. I really valued how patient they are with older people like me.

I used to work as an assistant electrician, but now my job opportunities have increased. I have more job options. The sanitary installation sector is a much larger market and what I learned in construction is helping me a lot.

My name is Jonathan Jaque. I was among the first graduates of the  FEDES Foundation Vocational Training School in 2002. It’s been three years since then and I am presently working in a cyber cafe.

Ruben took a course in electricity at the FEDES Vocational Training School. He’s always had aspirations, but we didn’t have the resources to help him, as his older brother was also studying and I couldn’t afford to pay both of their studies.

Erika works in the self-service and table-serving department and on some shifts as a kitchen porter at the SOPROLE company canteen.

My name is María José Tello. I am 25 years old and I am the supervisor of the Program for the Disabled of the City Council of La Cisterna, in Santiago, Chile, whose main goal is to socially integrate the disabled and provide them with equal opportunities.

In the town of Los Lagos (population: 21,000), in the Xth Region, in the South of Chile. (Testimony of Mr. Osvaldo, 61 years old, I’ve been waiting over 50 years to get a wheelchair)

The Jara family is also from the district of Lo Espejo. They are staying at the house of a relative of theirs who has her  4 children. The entire family lodges in one room that was improvised on the second story, where they lived in very sad and appalling conditions.

Maria Graciela Soto Barnechea is one of these cases: She is a widow with 8 childre, if which 2 were born with a disease called “morchios syndrome.” Her son, Cesar, 31, and her daughter, Angelica, 36 are both 3.28 feet tall.