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Niños Trabajadores
Latin America & the Caribbean
Niños Trabajadores
Project Coordinator:
Martha Cecilia Arroyave Arbelaez
Project Overview:
Many children of developing countries face a harsh reality at an early age; due to their family’s economic circumstances they are forced to abandon their right to a primary education and are instead pushed into the workforce to help support their families. Niños Trabajadores (Ibagué, COLOMBIA), Spanish for “Working Children,” provides educational opportunities for children who are forced to work in the marketplace during the day. Children who are victims of child labor are not only robbed of a primary education, but also more susceptible to leading lives of violence as they grow up in their community. Along with a primary education, Niños Trabajadores provides programs about resisting drug and alcohol use, as well as opportunities for the children to learn, play and share with their peers who are in similar situations. The project also works with the parents, encouraging them to send their children to school and informing them about the importance of education. Martha Cecilia, the project coordinator, connects parents with training and income generating opportunities.
Recent Accomplishments:
• Each child has started to identify the importance of their childhood development as well as the value of school, play, and the relationships with the rest of the children.
• Through the year the levels of companionship and respect has increased between the participants in the program.
• The children know and have expressed understanding their rights and duties as citizens. This is reflected in the art projects that they have done and in the conversations that they have with the other children.
• The children, especially the teenagers, strengthen their leadership skills every time the group meets. It is reflected in their participation in each workshop where they assume roles as monitors or leaders of the groups.
• In 2007, all of the children successfully finished school. This signifies that they understand the value of education.
Number of People Directly Served by Project:
80
Number of People Indirectly Served by Project:
200 people who went to the marketplace where the children worked
Goals for 2010:
• With the adolescents that have advanced in the program, Ninos Trabajadores has implemented a process of strengthening their leadership skills. They are looking for more active participation and for those who are ahead to accompany their younger friends in the process of growing and developing both personally and academically.
• With the new government the Project hopes to increase the awareness of the institutions in order to achieve more support for the work that it does.
• To advance the work with women, the mothers of these children, to strengthen the process and to allow a larger impact on the quality of the lives of these families.
IPM Funding Goal for 2010:
$2,500
Community Impact:
Maria Milagros is a 12 year-old girl who began working in the market to help support her family. Her mother had abandoned her and left Maria in her father's care at the age of 9. Her father was not able to take the time to bring Maria to school, and instead brought her to work in the marketplace. Ninos Trabajadores has worked with Maria and her father. The Project Staff has visited with her father and emphasized the importance of her enrollment in school and of her active participation in the program. Her father agreed to enroll her in school and expressed that he was happy that she found a space to share with other children. Maria has fit well into the school and has been equipped with a uniform and school supplies by Ninos Trabajadores. Maria is a fast learner and is seeking tutoring to accelerate her learning so she can advance to a higher grade level. Her attitude has improved, and Maria's father has visited the school to thank Ninos Trabajadores for the important and transformative work that they have done. Today, Maria is a littler girl with many dreams and extraordinary potential.
How your donation may be put to use:
$250 provides school supplies for half of the program’s children.
$400 funds training workshops and materials for women in the community.