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Latin American Studies 87
Spring 1999
Argentina: Case Study 1999
Stephanie Sober
CASE STUDY
COUNTRY: Argentina
PROGRAM: "The House of the Kites": a Transit Home for
Street Children
LOCATION: Liniers, Argentina
SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM:
YMCA of the Republic of Argentina and the National
Council for Children and Family
HISTORY OF PROGRAM:
The program is the result of many efforts, firstly
to secure the needed resources and then to establish agreements with the
state. Through the National Council for Children and Family, the basic
infrastructure has been set up, and a technical team is responsible for
caring for the children.
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF CHILDREN SERVED:
Up to 12 — Length of stay varies, but no longer
than 3 months.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILDREN SERVED:
Children at high social risk.
HOW CHILDREN ARE RECRUITED/SELECTED:
A team of street workers is sent daily to locations
identified as areas with the largest concentration of children at risk.
The team approaches, motivates and sensitizes the children so they come
to the home voluntarily.
PROGRAM SERVICES:
The children live freely and naturally in the home
under the guidance of temporary "parents" and learn to abide by certain
mutually established conditions. All of the children attend school, go
to sports clubs in the area, participate in workshops for manual or artistic
creation in the home and develop a normal life of social relationships.
Contacts are made with the family, and family members come to the home
and join in activities designed for them. When returning to the family
is not possible, the child is taken to another home that functions differently,
generally with foster parents.
FINANCIAL BASIS OF PROGRAM:
YMCA of Argentina and agreements with the state,
including the National Council for Children and Family.
PHILOSOPHY OR APPROACH:
The home is primarily intended to provide security
and the conditions essential for a life with dignity for children who live
on the streets.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
The Children are under the responsibility of a
couple that has been trained for this difficult task. Also, the home provides
a room for manual and artistic activities and a large main hall for recreation
and social activities.
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