“If you want to help someone for a day, give them bread.
If you want to help them for a longer time, give them a house.
If you want to help them for a lifetime, give them an education.”
This was the motto by which Father Juan Markiewicz acted. He fought against poverty and became the founder and driving force behind the “Villa Cabello” (meaning “Hair Quarter”) neighborhood in the city of Posadas, Argentina. The name comes from the fact that long, cut hair was donated to finance the settlement and its church. Sister Franziska Hohenwieser began collecting donations. She came up with the idea of asking for “old braids,” which we have been purchasing for decades. “Villa Cabello” is primarily an educational project. Because education is the foundation for a profession that allows one to support a family. The Villa Cabello Foundation pays school fees for 400 children who cannot afford them. Many families in the area still live in poverty.
Thanks to you, we can support this project with an additional donation.
Historical Background:
Villa Cabello is one of the most well-known and populous neighborhoods of Posadas, the capital of the Misiones province in Argentina. It is located in the west of the city, bordering the Arroyo Mártires and the Paraná River. Here is some important information about this special neighborhood:
History and Origin of the Name
- The name “Villa Cabello” (which translates roughly as “Hair Settlement”) has an extraordinary backstory:
- Foundation: The neighborhood was founded on May 13, 1973, by the Steyler missionary Father Juan Markievicz. The goal was to provide dignified housing for the impoverished rural population migrating to the city.
- Funding: Since there were hardly any funds available, supporters in Germany appealed for donations of long, cut hair. This was sold to wig manufacturers, and the proceeds (approximately 18,000 DM) were used to purchase the first 12 hectares of land for the settlement.
Development and Community
What began as a small aid project has grown into a “city within a city”:
- Population: Today, an estimated 60,000 to 80,000 people live there. It is the second largest neighborhood in Posadas after Itaembé Miní.
- Self-help: The project was strongly based on the principle of “helping people to help themselves.” The residents partially built their own houses, schools, and even a hospital.
- Infrastructure: Today, the neighborhood has its own independent infrastructure with numerous educational institutions (from kindergartens to vocational schools), sports fields, churches, and health centers.
Important Institutions
- This foundation continues the legacy of Father Markievicz and manages the neighborhood’s social and educational projects.
- Parroquia Inmaculado Corazón de María: The religious and social center of the district.
Location and Boundaries
The neighborhood extends west of Avenida Jauretche to the Arroyo Mártires and is bordered to the north by the Río Paraná.
Villa Cabello is now considered an example of successful urban development through civic engagement and international solidarity.
These schools are a central component of the neighborhood and were often established through the support of the foundation and the initiative of the residents. They offer children and young people in the region important educational and training opportunities.
