Life skills in adolescents to face violence

Last June 7th, the “Violence prevention" Rally was held at the "Pedro Díaz” Technical High School No. 16., as part of the closing of the "Skills for life" workshops offered by the Pro Niños Foundation.

Street Work educators joined efforts with the Educational Training and Innovation Coordination, to carry out activities aimed at promoting the development of protective factors in the students. The central theme of the rally was How can we prevent and identify violent actions? and What can be done to solve them?

21 students participated at five work stations, reflecting on violence and its impact on young people. As a team, the youngsters built the “violencemeter", an instrument to quantify the different levels of violence they experience in their environment. At the end, a “Wall of nonviolence” was created, in which everyone wrote or drew a personal reflection.

With this rally we created a space for reflection inside the classrooms, that enables youngsters to identify on their own those situations—whether in the school, family or community life—that place them at risk of drug use, violence, school desertion and taking to the street.

Links:

• You can help more girls and boys out of the streets

On April 13, the 9th anniversary of the Transitional House for Independent Living (CTVI) was celebrated; a home for young people who lived on the street and after a process of reflection, decided to give up that lifestyle. For diverse reasons, some of them cannot reintegrate with their families, they cannot stay in a care home because they are almost adults, others may have lived in care institutions, but they all have something in common: they are ready to prepare for independent living.

Pro Ninos believes that all human beings have the ability to decide, reflect and change themselves to not do things they don’t like. At CTVI we support these young people in the construction of their life project, strengthening their safe spaces, health care, specialized medical attention, emotional support, tools to solve conflicts without violence, healthy relationships, assistance to continue studying, training for formal work, time and money management, among many other areas of moving to an independent life.

Amid laughter, applause, nostalgia, joy and a little magic, the young people of CTVI celebrated another year of effort and collaboration in the company of friends, educators, administrative staff and graduates of the House, which are clear examples that together we can change the course of our lives, even at the most adverse moments.

We trust that CTVI will continue to work for many more years, assisting adolescents and young people who strive to achieve an independent life away from the streets and to have a dignified, stable and productive life.