Help with Food
How can land use and bringing everlasting hope to some in Argentina be connected and why has a new nightly ritual that involves people, weapons, and tragedy become part of Star of Hopes work. This ritual is birthed in the lingering troubled economy Argentina is suffering from. The economic trouble spawns effect misery and hurts the poorest the most, but others are also dragged into new economic warfare issues.
Chaco province in Red.
This problem has a name and it is not a very glamorous name, it's called squatting. It is by definition the unauthorized use of private land. Squatting is done by squatters and many times the eradication of squatters is a no-win situation for all concerned.
Let’s look at some background as we see it, Star of Hope has worked in Argentina since the early 70s. The work has from the start been geared to help poor and vulnerable people from indigenous communities, particularly the minority Toba (also called Qom), but also others in the province of Chaco. As with all Star of Hopes work the teaching of the Gospel was and is of foremost importance. Kenth and Alba Johnson were the pioneers and started the work there, Alba passed recently and Kenth and his grown children lead on.
The work has advanced through a variety of work efforts and investments. Great outcomes have been seen, more and more people are graduating school with better health, better education and can apply it to go on to higher education too. Other students that Star of Hope helps, will graduate trade school, however, there are many who still need help. Chaco’s economy is underdeveloped and is the third poorest of all provinces in Argentina.
A young girl from the local project.
The economy is now fueled by mixed work and industries, but the life-giving and historical agricultural sector has been severely hit in recent decades and it affects the majority of the Toba people as many have been working in this sector. More than 50% of the population of the Chaco live in poverty, and one in six children aged 2-5 years old are at risk of malnutrition. Many families still live in houses built of mud, branches, and corrugated iron. The big picture for the whole situation and the people is desperate. Chaco, the province, has not kept up with the developments in other parts of the country.
Star of Hope's work makes a difference and is important in the short and long term. But much more must be done to lift the hardest hit up out of the misery.
Now there is a new national problem with squatting. Many landowners in Argentina have fallen prey to squatters. There are individuals and families but even professional squatters the idea is very simple people want to get the landowners land for free; for themselves or as a contract job for a third party.
The squatters, it is reported are usually immigrants and are fleeing from slums. They're moving on to empty fields, soccer fields, federal land or any place that can get them away from crime-ridden slums. What a thought, to be so poor you and your family live in a slum and have to move to a grass lot or other to escape poor on poor crime.
The situation is at best a double whammy; please allow us to caution you as to what you think or what you envision. We are talking about women, men and children living and doing what they have to do to survive. Yes, it is illegal to occupy and take other people's land. Taken or occupied land could be an investment that individuals or families have worked their whole lives to attain; only to find out that the police will not help if it is squatter-occupied. There are too many of them the problem is too big.
Then there is an unwritten rule in Argentina concerning squatters, this rule stems from an event many years ago where the police tried to evict about 200 squatters from one of the larger parks in Buenos Aires, the capital. The police tried to eject the squatters and fighting commenced with many injured and some squatters were killed. The president walked back the order to evict and wanted no future squatter deaths so the police became de facto passive to ejecting squatters.
We heard one man talk about this recently “I have this problem on my land and I'm trying to do something about the squatters and it is just simply being ignored by the authorities. The laws are not being enforced therefore man's law is not existent in this matter.”
This exactly the same problem affecting Star of Hope in Argentina, we have a problem right now at one of our projects with squatters.
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Church left and squatters right.
Squatters on Star of Hope land.
Sadly and for disclosure, some of the squatters are people Kenth Johnsson and team have helped in the past.
Now unfortunately and or fortunately the church located on the land is guarded by police and guards. The squatters are very aggressive and unfriendly. Some of them have guns.
There is a legal battle is in motion (draining funds) but this can take time. Pablo Johnsson one of the lead Pastors and son of Kenth and Alba, has been very active with the lawyers and media. Pablo prays it will work out well for Star of Hope.
This land in question is located in Sáenz Peñais, A growing city with a lot of influx so more people need places to stay. “They have no money so they occupy lands and buildings,” says on local official. One effect is that several parcels of land not protected by a wall or fence taken over.
The local government as mentioned above is lame, they are afraid to hurt the squatters and now the indigenous Toba, the folk group that Star of Hope helps most. The Toba or Qom has attained some new status after being discriminated upon for so long. The government has built houses in some areas for the poor and then others become upset the government is not doing more for them as well. People are jealous and fear right or wrong that to get one of this government houses, you need to pay the boss within the Toba-group some money, otherwise, you are not on the list.
What about Star of Hopes land then? One thing is certain, we need to build a wall to enclose the land. A wall will protect the land that Star of Hope Argentina or specifically “El Buen Pastor” legally bought. The land can be developed to accommodate a larger Church, schools, sports fields and more. Other options are to sell the land it is a valuable piece of land. Of course, we would have no impact there if the land was sold.
Squatters are on the land now and to inflame the situation more, Hooligans are getting active in this quarter's Social Circle here. They aim to inflame and increased tensions between the squatters and the police thus making evictions harder as the unwritten law to not harm squatters is still active.
Star of Hope Argentina is working diligently with dialogue with all stakeholders to try to keep the squatters off their property but it's not working the only hope is to build the wall.
We need help to build a wall. It is not cheap. It is a large piece of land, the whole yard is about 100 yards by 400 yards and the squatters occupy north portion.
The price tag is $100,000 dollars to secure the land and continue Gods work. Most of us do not have $100,000 but some of you might be able to make a dent in this and help get it going. This is a critical problem and needs to be solved right now.
Much of this land cost was paid a few months ago but help is still needed to make the project grow.
Let’s help them keep their land and do Gods work.
Please call Mark Presson on 866 653 0321 to learn more.
