project description

Thanks to the initiative of a women's congress, the Vida Nueva community organization was created in 1996. Situated in San Isidro de El General, the organization was founded by the Bishop of San Isidro and, among others, teachers, social workers, psychologists, legal specialists, businesspeople and housewives. Vida Nueva works with those affected by increasing misery and social exclusion.

street kids:

"El Comedor" began as a cafeteria where streetkids and underage workers could receive one warm meal every day. Later a dormitory was added for those without homes. "El Comedor's" main goal is to bring kids in from the street and to give them the opportunity to benefit from formal and informal educational programs. Among others, English, music, computer and sport classes are taught, as well as workshops teaching manual skills.

The help of foreign volunteers allows the project to reach those in need not only in the city itself but in the neighbourhoods surrounding it. By seeking to create close relationships and networks of support for the families of streetkids, the organization hopes to reduce and prevent the presently high rate of school dropouts, often caused by a lack of financial resources.

A network of Austrian sponsor families has been created, in order to provide financial aid to youth studying or undergoing professional training. Presently 48 youth are benefitting from this program, and with the help of the foreign volunteers who translate their letters, they are able to correspond with their sponsor families.

Beginning in May 2001, many important changes have been taking place at "El Comedor". Due to increasing drug problems among the youth, a shelter known as "Nuestra Casa" ("Our Home") was established by APANNAC, a sister organization of Vida Nueva. The shelter functions based on the principle of self-sufficiency. The youth cook, care for the home and garden and make decisions regarding the centre's rules and regulations.

Today Vida Nueva concentrates mainly on course and activity offerings, the search for sponsor families, preventative assistence to the youth and exchange programs with Finca Sonador. Through the latter, the youth are able to gain agricultural knowledge and participate in ecological and forest conservation projects.

At the municipal level, Vida Nueva plays an active role in various commissions concerning issues faced by street kids. For example, the organization participates in an interdisciplinary commission formed by UNICEF and the San Isidro municipality, which works to ensure the protection of children's human rights. Vida Nueva also takes part in public conferences regarding minority workers and street kids.

Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence

This office, found in the San Isidro municipal buildings, has been benefiting the city's inhabitants since its establishment in 1997. Two full-time workers and many volunteers manage the office and coordinate its cooperation with various public and religious institutions, as well as with a variety of professionals such as doctors, sociologists and legal consultants.

Originally a shelter offering temporary lodging, today legal advice is provided by lawyer Yolanda Chinchilla and emotional assistance by María Eugenia Quesada. The office also ensures that important information reaches the public. This is accomplished by the writing of articles for magazines and newspapers, participating in radio shows and working to make sure information reaches the more isolated country villages.

A final project taken on by the organization was started by a group of women seeking counsel and advice. With the help of volunteers, they came together to form a therapeutic group, in which English and handicraft classes as well as opportunities to share their experiences are organized regularly.

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