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Creating safe places for children and youth
By Emilio Farga on 12 Jun 2007
More than 100 children can play and do homework safely in two newly established safe rooms in one of World Vision’s Area Development Programs in Chile.
In one of the poorest areas on the outskirts of the capital, in the Santiago Cencodel ADP, one of these rooms is supervised by a specialist teacher and caters for children aged 4-to-ten years. Two community volunteers assist the teacher.
The other room is for a World Vision youth association of leaders. The 25-member association formed about 10 years ago, when many members were children. The association runs workshops, including music workshops, and other activities chosen by members. This group is self-organised and run by the young people.
“It is important for us, this way we gain a new space for children. I mean you can see children playing until late at night in the streets, and now they will have a safe place to stay, without seeing people fighting, or taking drugs. It is better for them to be protected and not out on the streets,” said one youth association leader
The safe rooms are open for children to attend after school, from 3 until 9 o’clock.
The Santiago area experiences a high rate of unemployment, around 10 per cent, and a poverty rate of 26 per cent. Children receive about 10 years of schooling.
Drug abuse and trafficking is prevalent, as is family and street violence. In Winter, there is a very high rate of respiratory illnesses, specially among children and the elderly.
Therefore, these rooms fulfill a long term yearning of the community that now has peace of mind in leaving its children in these safe spaces where they are protected against street dangers.
To improve these areas, community representatives, ADP staff, youth and children worked together painting the rooms and cleaning the surroundings.
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