By Meritrina Baute | Meritrina Baute
Ecuador has become one of the 10 countries with the highest crime rates in the world: armed violence, organized crime and impunity are risks faced by children and families in vulnerable areas such as Pisulí and La Roldós. Our response to protect and prevent against this violence has been to focus our intervention mainly on the parents, that is why we have bet everything on our "Education at Home Program", transforming the spaces of the Child Development Center "Ojos de Cielo" into the new "Pelca Experimental Center for Early Education".
We firmly believe that the right of our children to a childhood free of fear and violence can be ensured by strengthening the fundamental role of parents in their upbringing and integral development. Therefore, since this year, the center has been receiving -3 times a month- more than 200 children and their parents, training them in child development, parenting, resilience, affectivity, health care and child nutrition, and teaching them -from guided practices- how to stimulate and educate their children.
In addition, home visits have allowed us to observe the family context and detect particular needs (health, violence, unemployment), such as that of 26 women victims of violence who are being accompanied and referred to professional care. As a result of this follow-up, many mothers have become aware of the value and dignity of their person and have regained the confidence and determination to face their situation and look after themselves and their children.
Another new activity that will seek to strengthen families and offer "violence-free spaces" will be the "integration and culture" days, which will promote their bonding, socialization, open them to a broader horizon and allow them to get to know significant places for their culture and nature.
We also want to tell you that, in October, 2 important initiatives were carried out for the welfare of the children: with the support of the local Health Center, an anthropometric control was performed (to be done quarterly) to all children where 20 cases of malnutrition were verified and a qualified nutritionist provided training on basic concepts of nutrition, good feeding practices and therapeutic use of plants.
"(The anthropometric control) seems to us a very good initiative to realize, as moms, if our babies are growing and gaining weight since at the health center it is very difficult to get a medical appointment", mentioned Ana, who is a beneficiary mother of the foundation.
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