History, Wonder Tales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends Geschiedenis van de Familie Adriaens | Page 110

SOS CHILE
With father Omer recently retired from work, Marlies’ parents especially worked relentlessly to help the people of
Santa Clara. Apart from selling “artesanía”, they organised charity raffles and collected second hand clothes which
were shipped to Chile in collaboration with “Wereld Missie hulp”, (‘World-Mission-Aid’), a catholic NGO.
Sister Marleen and her husband, Marc, set up “Silent Support to Chile”, a funds to which a number of friends and
members of the protestant community Marleen and Marc belonged to, contributed on a regular basis.
At the time, Mieke was suffering from a brain tumour. She helped where and when possible and became with time
one of the most active family members, working incountable hours in support of Marlies’ Chilean project. During a
visit to Santa Clara, she got to know Sofía Fuenzalida Murúa, who returned to Flanders with her for a three month
visit. In Terjoden however, Sofía (Toty) met – and married – Walter. Their children Walter Junior (Sam), Deborah
and Jeffrey became the first Flemish-Chilean Adriaens family members.
Brothers Eddy, Peter and Walter, joined by Walter’s wife Toty
(Sofia), organised presentations in schools, cultural and youth
organisations and joined the Committee for International
Collaboration of their hometown Aalst, together with whom they
organised a first “Chile Evening”, soon to be followed by other
“Chile Evenings” which they organised themselves. Different
formulas were applied: mostly, “the solidarity meals”, originally
with “empanadas” , Chilean meat pastry, wine and punch, later
on mostly with cheese and wine, or even spaghetti, were very
popular. But also evenings with guest speakers (Paul Gheysels)
and informative evenings organised in collaboration with local
cultural organisations (KWB – Katholieke Werklieden Bond,
KAV – Katholieke Arbeiders Vrouwen, LG – Landelijke Gilden) were much appreciated. During these evenings,
Chilean and / or local artists were hired to ensure the musical part of the evening.
During a short stay at home, Marlies obtained the support “Broederlijk Delen” (‘brotherly sharing’), the main Belgian
Catholic Aid Oranisation for International Collaboration, which would support her work financially with a limited
yearly contribution for 10 years. She also contacted an Antwerp based laboratory, that for a number of years
provided free shipments of medicines and pharmaceutical products, which were much needed in Santa Clara.
Meanwhile, in Chile, the women of Santa Clara acquired a small house and increasingly felt the need of a name and
an official structure. So, Rayen Mahuida was set up.

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