Adolescents are trained to organize and lead children. Children learn and defend human rights, gain self-esteem, and identify and advocate for change in impoverished communities.
In a neighborhood where most people live on less than a dollar a day and where gangs, domestic violence, child labor, and malnutrition are prevalent, this project hopes to break the cycle of poverty, violence and despair. It empowers children to work for positive change. 15 youth leaders receive training, and work with children and parents to plan and implement the program. Scholarships are given. 70 children participate at present, but the group is constantly growing.
Children learn through participation in games, supervised play, and organizing and executing events--from parties to neighborhood clean-up days. Youth leaders model behavior and values at the 3-hour weekly meetings, and meet separately for planning.
Produce hopeful, confident, socially conscious leaders. Reduce child abuse, teenage pregnancy, gang membership. Increase education and learning, knowledge of rights, health issues. Instill values such as education, equality, honesty, compassion.
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).
