Ecuador: Case Study
Sara Bonnell

Location

PMT is based out of Quito, Ecuador, and also serves Guayaquil, Ambato, and urban locations in Peru.

History of PMT

The program was established in 1983.  When Ecuador became the first South American country to adopt the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, PMT helped to promote this event by organizing an election solely for children to select the two issues that they felt most affected them.  The organization was pushed into national renown when 186,000 children turned out to vote.

Current Philosophy

PMT's overarching goal is “to contribute to the development of children and youth as social actors, capable of exercising their rights and contributing to the development of democratic society.”

PMT Basics

PMT works with children aged 6 to 25 who come from impoverished urban communities.  The programs aim to provide informal education in business and life skills.  They also emphasize children working to become active citizens and encouraging entrepreneurial business development.  PMT offers “alternative spaces to satisfy the educative and social necessities with the marginalized young people of the urban zones” and offers access to facilities to provide equal opportunities for youth from all backgrounds.  Their basic services help youth communicate their needs and prepare them for their futures.  Some special features they offer include an Information Center for their youths that has a computer lab, and facilities for film and music study.  They also provide information on AIDS prevention, reproductive health, illegal drug use and prevention, and issues concerning recreation and sociocultural problems.

Two Key Programs

Beginning in 1996, their latest keynote program “Building Our Future” worked with 125 youth aged 9 to 25, with 63 completing the business/life skills training program in Quito and Guayaquil.  As a result of the program, 24 enterprises were developed by 46 youth in these two cities.  To participate in the program, youths had work in the informal street economy less than five hours per day.  By 1998 this program had served 400 street-involved youth with opportunities to learn useful business and life skills. 

Another program developed in 1994 involving radiorevistas and journalism done by youths on issues involving them.  In addition to highlighting an alternative perspective in the news, it also means that stories that reflect positively on youth will be told in addition to the negative ones.  In the January 1995 conflict between Ecuador and Peru, they publicized a “clear pacifist message of youthful solidarity and a rejection to the war and the arms.”  The amount of children involved was not specified.

Sponsorship

PMT collaborates with Street Kids International (SKI) for their “Building Our Future” program.  The university in Ecuador supports their journalism program.  The financial basis for their programs come from the organization each program is affiliated with and PMT coordinates budget and logistics with them.  Specific details were not available.

Sources

http://www.streetkids.org/programa.html

http://www.noticierojuvenil.com/un_poco_de_historia.htm

http://www.cicad.oas.org/es/reduccion_de_la_demanda/Antiguo/streetkids/pmt.htm

"Sometimes I think that I am changing my country. But I think we are changing the minds of children. They will grow up to be better citizens and contributors. They have suffered abuse, but they have learned about their rights, they are starting to take responsibility, and one day they will have families of their own".

Veronica Sambrano
PMT Executive Director, Ecuador