U.S. Embassy Donation to Domestic Violence Shelter Casa Abierta Maria Pueblo

March 10, 2009

On March 10, Ambassador Wayne visited the domestic violence shelter Casa Abierta Maria Pueblo, where he donated a washer, dryer, beds, pillows, tableware and kitchen utensils.  Also present were Governor of Buenos Aires Province Daniel Scioli, Mayor of La Plata, and Provincial Minister of Social Development Daniel Arroyo.  Ambassador Wayne praised Dario Witt and his team for their work in assisting domestic violence victims.  This donation is made possible thanks to a grant provided by U.S. Southern Command through the U.S. Embassy’s Military Group. 

Ambassador Wayne, the Governor and the Mayor toured the shelter facilities, organized to provide education and creative opportunities for domestic violence victims to both women and their children.  Casa Abierta Maria Pueblo organizes youngsters by age.  The officials visited, as an example, a pottery workshop where the oldest kids produce sculptures that, as Dario Witt explained, allow them to express themselves and overcome traumatic memories. The workshop acts also as a job opportunity for the youngsters.

“Darío Witt and his team staff have developed an integrated approach to assisting victims of domestic violence by offering shelter, counseling, legal services, and programs focused on victim empowerment.  He also works with abusers to rehabilitate them and prevent future violence,” Ambassador Wayne said. 

Casa Abierta Maria Pueblo was founded in 1997 by Dario Witt and his wife to assist victims of domestic violence. Since then, Casa Abierta has helped more than 17.000 women and children and has become a model for local and provincial governments. The team working at the shelter is composed by 20 professionals. Dario Witt has partnered with other 15 shelters to offer advise on the application of an integrated assistance method that strenghthens women and protect children.  The National Conucl on Minors and Family has recognized the effectiveness of Dario’s programs, and is considering the adoption of his guidelines. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have also highlighted his work.

“To work for gender rights is to work against violence in the world. Domestic violence is absolutely related to unequality of rights, to socially legitimated impunity and to society’s lack of recognition of this problem” said Witt.

In 2007, Dario Witt received RECONOCIMIENTO and support from Ashoka Foundation. Ashoka is the first association of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs—men and women who are developing innovative and effective solutions for the world’s most urgent social problems. Ashoka invests in social entrepreneurs and their models with financial and professional support that helps them implement their innovative ideas and solutions.  At present, Ashoka has a presence in 62 countries and has slected more than 1700 social entrepreneurs.  For more information, please visit Ashoka-Argentina 

“A world without violence not only benefits women, but also reinforces democracy and enables people to realize their full potential. Through this donation, the U.S. Embassy is proud to support the extraordinary work that Darío Witt and his team at the Casa Abierta María Pueblo are doing to assist victims of domestic violence,” Ambassador Wayne said.