1

1864,

Feb 16

William Morris was born in Soham near Cambridge, England

2

1868

William Morris’ mother died

3

1872

William emigrated to Paraguay with his father

4

1874

The Morris family move to the Republic of Argentina, to the province of Santa Fe near Rosario.

5

1879

The Morris family lived in a rural area where William took care of the sheep.

6

1886

Morris worked as a painter and decorator in Buenos Aires, where he rented a plot in Admiral

Brown Street.  He began to teach the children of the neighbourhood

7

1889

William founded the Boca Mission and purchased the house he was renting. William visited his mother’s grave in England where he dedicated his life to the abandoned children of Buenos Aires.

8

1897

William joined the South American Mission Society and returned to Argentina.

9

1898

William founded the first school between Guemes Street and Iriate Street with 18 pupils..

10

1899

William started the San PABLO church in Charcas Street in the Palermo district.

11

1900 -

1909

William set up three boys’ schools, two girls’ schools, one primary school, two mixed schools, three night schools and one vocational school.

12

1913

William Morris’ work was recognised as a charity by the Argentine Government in 1913

13

1923

William celebrated his silver wedding anniversary and opened a music school, a mothers’ association and an alumni association.

14

1925

Hogar el Alba was opened.

15

1932

Morris became sick and left for England on 19 May.  He died on 15 September 1932

16

1935

The schools were taken over by the Argentine National Council of Education

17

1943

A farm was bought in Longchamps, Buenos Aires province, with a donation from the Woolf Family from Germany.

18

1949

The Government took over the original site of Hogar el Alba as a home for children at risk.

19

1950

A new Home was built for forty children on the farm in Longchamps.  

20

1973

The Dutch Reformed Church donated money to build a house for girls, “Holanda Amiga”.

21

1991

Hilda and Alfredo Cittadino became directors of the Home.

22

1994

The organisation of the Home was changed so siblings could live together in accordance with the International Convention on Human Rights.

23

2000

Hogar El Alba celebrated its 75h anniversary, and a fifth house was added on site for the children.

24

2002

There was a grave economic crisis in Argentina and a donation from English friends of SAMS was received to build a bakery.

25

2003

Thanks to the help of two groups from Latin Link UK, the public bathrooms were completed along with the first stage of restoration in the dairy farm.

26

2004

SAMS (UK) introduced Hogar Eel Alba to Canford School. The two institutions formed a close relationship and worked together on a variety of projects. The first such project was the reconstruction of the dairy farm.

27

2005

The Home took part in a World Bank Projects Competition which involved identifying and supporting innovative ideas to strengthen civil rights among young people living in poverty. The Home won the prize and began setting up a small cheese factory to take forward its ‘Albores’ vocational training programme.

28

2006

The winning project received official recognition and an award from the local government. The Home continued developing the Albores Programme, reaching more youngsters through different workshops and courses. 

29

 2007

Canford School helped the Home to remodel Lozada House, one of the children’s residences, and with reconstruction of the main kitchen.  It also helped to run the annual children’s Megafestival for young people from the local community.

30

2008

The Home received the 2008 ‘Learning Together’ award from the education department of the Archbishop’s Office in Buenos Aires.  The ceremony was attended by Cardinal Monsignor Bergoglio.

Two new groups from Canford School visited the Home and carried out construction activities on Canelas House. They also took part in the third annual Megafestival.