Who are we?

The Huchuy Yachaq Association is an NGO registered in Cusco, Peru. (No. 11049524, A0001). The association works in the neighbourhood of Los Hermanos Ayer, on the outskirts of Cusco, which consists of 240 resident families and an unknown number of rental tenants. In this neighbourhood there is a high level of poverty, with little in the way of guaranteed income. Most houses have recently had water and electricity installed. Many adults work long hours in the poorly paid, insecure informal sector and many of the children also have to work, usually on the street selling postcards to tourists, cleaning shoes, washing cars etc. There is no public transport.

Objectives:

The objectives of the project are:

1. PREVENTION: Prevention of violence within the family, and a reduction in the amount of time children spend on the streets working. The project aims to strengthen the education processes, offering advice and suport in solving family conflicts.
2. PROMOTION: Promotion of a safe, beneficial childhood and adolescence for children at risk, in which young people are valued. The idea is to encourage and enable the young people to stay on at school, so they can break out of the marginalised community they live in and not end up in the informal work sector. The project aims to improve communication between adults and children through joint workshops, events and learning opportunities within the community and outside of the immediate neighbourhood.

The project has the use of a communal building for the next 15 years, agreed with the community council.

In January 2006 the project started a programme of "useful holidays" with a 2 month programme of educational activities for 120 children involving 5 teachers. During the holidays courses were run in logic and maths, communication, dance, theatre, crafts, and the kids went on organised visits to local attractions etc.

In March 2006 a small library was established, to provide support to the children that come to the centre after school to do their homework and school projects. Assistance is also provided to some of the children so they could register for school, providing text books, note books, pencils, school clothes and so on. Even so, some of the children aren't able to attend school due to a lack of funds.

Problems

• Poverty, social exclusion and marginalisation
• Absence of personal space
• Young people are perceived to be delinquents, existing or in the making
• Violent family dynamics
• Violence and abuse within the family
• Violent behavior between couples
• Young people leaving school at an early age
• Lack of space to study and means of doing so

Intervention

• Strengthening means of protection
• Minimising harm
• Minimising risk
• Education and community awareness and organisation
• Mediation in conflicts