About Casa Hogar

Casa Hogar Niño Jesús

It is a home like any other, the main difference being that it houses many children. Father Alain Leroux, a French priest from the diocese of Bayeux-Lisieux and a member of the “Communauté du Pain de Vie” is its founder.




He recalls in his own words that “when I arrived in Lima, Peru, I was extremely shocked by the abject poverty of the children who were running after our car and begging for money. Two months later in Arequipa, I had the chance to meet these children on the street again. After hearing their stories and winning their trust, I decided to lodge six of them at the presbytery. At the time, I hadn’t thought of founding a house and wanted only to respond to the most urgent needs of these street children. Today, after all the arrivals and a few departures, there are 35 boys living in a house that we built for them. We could define this as a small gesture even though the family is a big one. I am deeply aware that when confronted with the reality of millions of abandoned children in cities all over the world, this act is but a drop in the ocean. On the other hand, if no one were to do anything for a suffering child, it would not be worthwhile to talk about Christ. To preach about God without helping one’s neighbour is a waste of time”.

In the poorest areas of the Quechua culture (of native Peruvians), children have a hard time establishing their identities. Instead of raising their children in a family atmosphere, parents tend to use them as workers, going so far as to teach them how to steal for a living in order to supplement the family income. Moreover, in cities like Lima and Arequipa, families that have recently arrived from the “sierra” (mountains) or the “selva” (jungle), find themselves victims of alcoholism, violence and unemployment. The adverse effects of alcohol, drugs and certain superstitious Quechua beliefs, distorts the relationship between these people and their surroundings.

The children come to the house from different backgrounds in an attempt to survive situations that, in many cases, have almost destroyed them and lead them to a life on the streets. We took the very first members off the street. Since then, people have heard about Casa Hogar and the other children have come to us of their own accord or been brought here by their parents or a family judge.

The parents, whenever present, seldom recover from their bad habits. As a result, the children are forced to grow up practically alone and learn to make independent decisions for their spiritual, mental and physical development. They are free to return to a life on the street, if they choose. The doors to the house are always open day and night and the choice is theirs to make. If they choose to stay, they will need not only God’s help but the help of nurturing adults to love and respect them on this journey to adulthood.

“The child was growing up in height and wisdom before God and the men (Luke – state section and verse). - To grow up before God, it is necessary to know him. To grow up before men, it is necessary to know how.