URBANIZATION, POVERTY, AND CHILDREN IN LATIN AMERICA

Location: Santo Domingo

Sponsorship of Program: Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA)

History/background of program:

Established in 1980. Andres Fortunato is the General Director of YMCA .

Approximate # of children served: 60

Characteristics of the children served:

Children living on the street or run the risk of doing so.

How children are recruited/selected:

Children arrive on their own free will; program coordinators seek out children on the street.

Program Services:

• Facilities for bathing and cleaning themselves
• Staff conduct medical checks and psychological evaluations of children 
• Provide necessary medication to follow up every case at the YMCA center (problem with the spread of diseases in Dominican Republic)
• Schooling; recreation; feeding; camping; workshops on carpentry and hydroponics (the process of growing plants in sand, gravel, or liquid, without soil and with added nutrients)

Philosophy of program:

Program aims at assistance and prevention in several stages to gradually achieve re-education and re-insertion in normal social activities.

Special features:

Street educator’s; staff assigned to program by Department of Health and Social Well-being. 
 
 
 

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