SHELTER HOMES FOR STREET CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

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Approximately 46% of the kids living in the streets come from reconstructed families, with the presence of a stepmother or stepfather, who in many cases, mistreat and physically and sexually abuse these kids.

The violence in which the kid is victim of in the streets is far worse and more frequent than the punishments suffered at home. These kids are victims of the aggression inflicted by other kids and adults of the streets (including sexual harassment and rape).

CEDRO started its work with the kids and adolescents of the streets in 1989. This effort was made possible thanks to the contributions of many institutions that joined to attend the problem of these boys, girls and adolescents. They were living in the streets, mainly dedicated to drug consumption, robbery, street gang, child prostitution and exposed to the violation of their rights and physical and moral integrity.

CEDROS’ programme “Niños de la Calle” (Kids of the Street) in Peru, introduced the methodology of “open house” which is the most suitable for boys and girls who have fled or have been cast out of their homes. These kids are then easy prey of the drug consumption; particularly inhalants and increasingly, cocaine. However, the most urgent problem is not only drug abuse, but abandonment and abuse.

“Casa Hogares” programme’s objective is to contribute to the development of the abilities that favor social and family reinsertion of boys, girls and adolescents of the streets involved in high risk behavior such as consumption of psychoactive drugs, antisocial relationships, robbery and vandalism.

The program currently has three Open Houses and shelters, feeds and provides medical and psychological attention, clothing, educational resources, and job training according to the children’s skill set and preference. Furthermore, CEDRO works with the relatives of these children to open viable means for their reintegration to the family nucleus.

We work with qualified personnel that are dedicated to persuade the kids of the streets to get into this programme, leave the streets for a better life in CEDRO’s houses, until they reach adulthood. When the kids get to our houses, they undergo medical checkup, as well as undergo a psychological assessment, looking to integrate them as soon as possible to the educational system of the area. Each house’s personnel consists of by a multidisciplinary team competent in the areas of Humanities, Education, Psychology, and Social Work.

The cost to support each kid is approximately US$ 600 per year. The most expensive disbursement is medical care; especially due to their previous living conditions in the streets (respiratory infections, skin diseases, STDs, etc).

During these years we have witnessed that an opportune intervention, based on love and respect has performed miracles on these kids’ lives.