We are the first social organization in Argentina and Latin America dedicated to grief in children and adolescents. Since 2008, we have carried out professional, community-focused work. Today, 320 patients are receiving support, and we have a multidisciplinary team of more than 40 people.
Since our beginnings, more than 3,486 grieving children and adolescents and their immediate family members have participated in our programs, and we have trained more than 17,000 people (teachers, health professionals, and parents), reaching a direct beneficiary population of 138,900 people.
Mission
To provide psychological support to grieving children and adolescents so that, together with their caregivers, they can build an organized and healthy family system. To train other populations and institutions (educators, health professionals, companies, etc.) to address grief in a more natural and comprehensive way. To contribute to the development of public policies addressing grief.
Vision
To contribute to social and cultural awareness and change around death, thereby conveying the value of life, the present moment, and gratitude.
Meaning of Aiken
It is a name of Tehuelche and Mapuche origin. It means life, to live. That is what our mission is about: supporting grieving children and adolescents so they can give new meaning to life and find a new sense of purpose after such a significant loss.
A Brief History
Aiken Foundation was founded in 2008, or perhaps much earlier, when our founder experienced the death of her father at the age of six and the death of her stepfather during adolescence.
From a very young age, Aldana knew that her experience had to have a meaning that went beyond herself and her family. Over time, that pain became the driving force behind a dream, and that dream became a bridge for many children and their families to build a new reality.
The Birth of Aikén, According to the Founder
It all began in March 2008, while I was reading a book by my mentor Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, On Grief and Grieving. Since the beginning of my career in psychology, I had been drawn to issues surrounding death and grief, and that book was one of my favorites.
When I read in one section that there was a group in another country specializing in supporting grieving children and adolescents, I thought, 'How important it would have been to have this kind of support when my father died when I was six and when my stepfather died during my adolescence.' I thought, 'I want to create something like this in my country.' So I began finding out whether there was an institution dedicated to this field that I could join. If there wasn't, I was determined to create one (I had no idea how, let alone where to begin).
Things began to take shape very slowly as I shared my dream, which had already become a project in progress. I approached the Palliative Care Unit at Tornú Hospital, where they supported my idea, and I spent several months doing a rotation there. In addition to gaining experience, I met people who joined the project, and together we began to give it shape: the foundation's objectives, possible methodologies, the name, the logo, the first meetings with lawyers, constructive feedback from colleagues, doubts, and above all, the conviction about our ultimate goal: supporting children experiencing this pain.
Finally, with solid foundations in place, we opened the doors of the only community space in our country dedicated to this issue; in August 2008, our first family arrived with a grieving child.
I still remember each person we supported and the love and dedication with which we planned every intervention (the same dedication with which we do so today—and that is a great achievement!). That is how we paved the way and began our journey.
Many important people began to join Aiken, and slowly we built the great team I feel we are today—a great team of professionals and, above all, human beings. I am very proud to see who we are and the commitment and love with which we take on this work, with a clear focus on our central purpose: to leave a very small mark on people's journey through life, while many of us continue healing our own wounds.
—Aldana Di Costanzo
