Los Patojos is a place for 150 kids to come and be kids, away from the problems of their everyday lives. Founded by Juan Pablo in 2006, the project aims to provide a safe haven for young children where they can freely express themselves, receive motivation to learn and to continue their educational pursuits, despite the dismal situation in their local schools. Often in the public schools there are 50 to 60 students in each class with one teacher and no supplies. The goal of Los Patojos is to change dreams and ideas into action. They are achieving their goals - the children come every day, receive a basic lunch which Give Kids A Chance funds. They receive help with their homework from the staff and volunteers and also learn to use the tools they will need to survive in Guatemala. Although the centre is packed with so many children, they are happy, interested and learning new skills such as communication, and problem solving. Without the centre these kids would be on the street, learning the lessons of gang mentality, drugs, violence and the hopelessness of poverty and desperation. The centre is a vital part of their lives and their futures.
Los Patojos Cultural Centre
Juan Pablo identified a need in 2010 in his community of Jocotenango. While the children's centre provides a safe haven for young children, as they matured there was no place for them to be where they could explore and mature safely through the precarious time of adolesence. As any parent knows, between the ages of 14 and 20 any young adult can get into serious trouble. In Guatemala this problem is magnified by 100 times with the preponderance of street gangs, drugs, alcohol and violence. To this day the majority of young women are pregnant between the age of 14 and 20.
In order to circumvent the problem Juan Pablo opened a new centre with the co-operation and assistance of Just World International in the United States. During our visit from January to March, 2011 we became familiar with the project and its goals and ideals, through the help of our CasaSito friends.
Their project is exactly what the youth of Guatemala need. In this centre they are free to explore the new worlds of journalism, juggling, art lessons, music lessons (drums and guitar), computer literacy and break dancing. In our eight years of working in Guatemala we have never seen a project that is fulfilling such a need. Give Kids donated funding to the project to purchase equipment and supplies to start up and we are funding the centre monthly to ensure it can stay open and keep these kids off the streets and out of gangs. It has been a great success, young adults are actually quitting the street life, giving up drugs and participating every day at the centre.
Educarte is a community centre in the town of Ciudad Vieja created by a dedicated young Guatemalan woman who saw the tremendous need of her community. With the help of CasaSito, Alejandra has created a safe haven for not just children but their parents and the community at large. The younger children come to receive a basic but nutritious lunch which Give Kids A Chance funds. They then receive assistance with their homework and participate in art and drama classes to help them to develop communication skills. Children that are from severely poor families receive a stipend to help pay for school supplies and shoes, without which they could not attend school. Alejandra has been building up a library through donations which is open to the whole community. A peaceful little space where anyone can come to read and do their homework.
Educarte conducts social programs which extend out to the families of the community. Endemic problems such as physical abuse, sexual abuse and the associated problems of endemic poverty are addressed by a psychologist and through volunteer help.
Please view the recent report below for pictures and more information:
