Project: Youth Risk Prevention & Empowerment through Cultural Arts (Phase II)
Partners: Instituto de Promocion Humana (INPHRU)
CFCA has a long-standing history of working hand-in-hand with the Instituto de Promocion Humana (Institute for Human Promotion – INPHRU) in Managua, the capital city of Nicaragua, to address growing numbers of child poverty, violence and HIV/AIDS, and provide solutions through youth empowerment and human rights education programs.
Project Description: The project will work with children and youth living in some of the poorest neighborhoods of Managua through cultural arts workshops that integrate human rights education. Youth build self-esteem through their participation in mural painting, dance, and circus arts while learning about how to protect and uphold human rights. As well, the project will provide educational and supportive workshops for parents and families of children living in the neighborhoods.
Regional Challenges: Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua and home to nearly 2 million people, half of whom are living below the poverty line. The greatest wealth discrepancies can be found in Managua, and amongst the poorest are generally street children, who lack food, shelter, education and access to health care. Most of these children are forced to work by selling food and foods in markets, or by scavanging for reusable items in garbage dumps. Malnutrition, preventable diseases, and the threat of violence and abuse are extremely high, putting many children at risk.
Impact: By expressing themselves through the cultural arts, children and youth are able to voice their realities and build self-esteem, confidence and awareness of their human rights. Human Rights education provides youth with the tools they need to take control of their own lives and choices, and thus reduce the risk of HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, and gang violence, and break the cycle of poverty that is rampant in the capital city.
Our Partners: The Instituto de Promocion Humana (Institute for Human Promotion) has been working in Managua, Nicaragua for over two decades to provide education, training, and capacity building for children and families who are living in extreme poverty.