Programm for Violence Prevention for Youths in the Context of Gang Crime in Central America
Since the beginning of 2007 AWO International has supported the violence-prevention work of youth organisations and networks in Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico and El Salvador. AWO International provides assistance above all in organisation development. Central America has a great problem with criminals among gangs of youths, the so-called “Maras”, which control their milieu. Youths are thus often stigmatised as violent criminals in the media and in public. The result of an AWO International investigation, however, is that young people are also the victims of violence. They are subject to violence in all situations in life – on the street, at home and in school, also from their teachers.
Poverty, a lack of development perspectives and immense social inequality foster the propensity for violence in a region. The average age in Central America is under 20. It is therefore decisive to include especially young people in processes of change. Together with four partner organisations, AWO International developed a project concept in which youths are given support to organise and to fight for their rights – such as better opportunities for the future – and at the same time make the public and political bodies more sensitive to their needs.
The AWO International partner organisations do not work directly with the “Maras”, but pursue the aim of confronting gang crime through prevention, and also to foster the overall development of youths. Family, school, district and city, and the general political conditions, are incorporated and taken into account. In all countries educational programmes for youths are set up to provide so-called youth promoters and disseminators. Following their training, they assume key rolls in their organisations and communities.
The organisations build up a regional network together, record data pertinent to the situation of the youths and draw up legal initiatives. With effective PR campaigns and demonstrations, the youths bring awareness to their situation and work for a peaceful life within their cities and communities. In all, about 700 youths and 29 youth organisations participate in the programme.
Mexico: Iniciativas para la Identidad y la Inclusión, A.C. (INICIA)
At local level: Comité de Derechos Humanos de Comalcalco A.C. (CODEHUCO), Tabasco Foro para el Desarrollo Sustentable, Chiapas
Bachillerato Asunción Ixtaltepec, Oaxaca
The project is realised in two states in Mexico, and coordinated locally by the respective organisation. In Chiapas youths participate from the communities of Chilón, San Fernando, Ciopainalá, Tuxtla Gutiérrez and Tapilula, in Tabasco youths participate from Comalcalco and Cunduacán. A total number of 180 youths participate in the two states. The projects in Mexico are concentrated in the regions in which the future perspectives, above all for youths, are poor and from where many people migrate to the USA. Youth gangs acquire an exceptional number of new members above all in these regions.
The partner organisation organises workshops to the theme of violence in the context of human rights and inform young people of their rights. Comprehensive information to the themes of youth violence and rights are made available on their Internet pages.
Guatemala: Sociedad para el Desarrollo de la Juventud (SODEJU)
500 youths from the five communities of San Raymundo, San Juan Sacatepequez, Colonia el Amparo, Juan la Laguna and Esquintla Palin participate in the project. They are trained to become so-called “Ambassadors of Peace” and work as disseminators. The institutes for further education are coordinated by five local youth organisations, which have in the meantime united to form a network for youth-violence prevention. They educate youths with the support of SODEJU and make parents and teachers aware of the problems. They organise round tables in every community at which representatives from state and non-state institutions agree to plans of actions for the development of youths. These range from offers of training for teachers for the improvement of scholastic infrastructure to the implementation of informative events about rights for children and youths. In the community, information is offered through public events, games, competitions and workshops to the theme of “youth and violence”.
Honduras: Comité de Familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos en Honduras (COFADEH)
The project region comprises the three cities of Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula and Siguatepeque. In all about 120 youths participate in the programme. They are members of youth organisations, which form a network in every city and realise the project there. In all cities COFADEH has carried out informative events for youths, parents and teachers and started an awareness campaign in the media. The youths participate in training programmes and independently plan their activities for 2008. They organise, for example, football tournaments in their communities in which the participants are given the opportunity to exercise “fair play”.
El Salvador: Asociación de Capacitación e Investigación para la Salud Mental (ACISAM)
The project in El Salvador is included since September 2008 and comprises communities of Apopa, Tonacatepeque, Guazapa, Aquilares and El Paisnal. In each community the partner organisation will work together with a youth organisation that is already integrated in a network. Youths are trained in workshops in conflict management and their psychosocial capabilities strengthened. Finally, campaigns to make society aware of youth rights and violence prevention are to be carried out.
Nicaragua: “Asociación de Desarrollo de Municipal” (ADM)
In January 2009 AWO International extended the program to Nicaragua. The work there is coordinated in six communities of the Departments Boaco - José de los Remantes, Santa Lucia, Teustepe, Sanlorenzo and Camoapa – by the partner organization “Asociación de Desarrollo Minicipal” (ADM).
