Monthly Activity Report

MonthlyActivityReport
YouthViolenceinElSalvador:EvaluatingtheImpactofanAgriculturalandNutritional
InnovationintheReductionofViolenceandGangInvolvement
Period covered by this report:
Report prepared by:
CDF Project Manager:
August 1-31, 2016
Ofelia García, IPTN Coordinator &
Veronica Perez, Psychologist and Therapist
Johanna Roman
Project Achievements:
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Peacebuilding activities to address the violence component of this program include the following:
o Creation of workgroups and implementation of meetings and reflection workshops with people
from the beneficiary communities of the hydroponic project.
o Reflection Dialogues in each community to reflect about the experience of solidarity and
teamwork.
o Psychological therapy to address drivers of violent behavior in youth.
o Theater performances
o Workshops on leadership and teamwork
Left: Solidarity Workshop with children from El Carmen
Right: Solidarity Seminar focusing on human rights and human development
•
Agricultural and Nutrition activities:
o Assembly and delivery of 149 hydroponic tables to communities: Linea Ferrea (19), Itsmania
(20), EL Carmen (20) El Despertar (40), San Antonio Las Vegas (20), Montecarlo (30).
o Delivery of 96 boxes of rice enriched with vitamins and Manna Packs
o Participation of community members in the establishment of hydroponic tables and planting in
the different communities as well as preparation and application of nutrients. 42 Nutrients kits
o
o
prepared and delivered to six communities. Also, training for families by an agronomist: plague
control, preparation and use of natural pesticides.
Support from the New Horizons for the Poor Foundation, in the transportation of the hydroponic
tables, and the donation of plastic to prepare tables in the different communities. Also a
donation of 15 pair of gloves, 13 masks and tools.
Nutritional evaluation of 254 children and youth in the communities: San Antonio Las Vegas,
Línea Férrea, Itsmania, Montecarlo, Las Margaritas (El Carmen).
Details on Peace-Building Activities:
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Reflection Dialogues in each community to reflect about the experience of solidarity and team
work.
Meetings with the participants of the hydroponic project in the six communities where they expressed
how they feel working and learning in groups, and the problems they faced.
Psychological group and individual therapies
The Psychosocial focus is very important. Some of the most common psychological diagnosis
addressed in individual psychological therapy were the following: generalized anxiety, depression, fear,
social inadequacy, falling behind in school, bullying, antisocial behavior, abuse of drugs and alcohol,
autism, mourning due to parents separation, emotional and physical abuse, eating disorders, dyslexia,
attention deficit with hyperactivity, low self-esteem, self-harm, suicide attempts and authority abuse.
o Addressing youth violence
Youth violence is multi-causal and can be found at different levels:
- Macro level: specialized studies in this topic state that youth violence is the result of problems
such as poverty, and deep structural difficulties such as the social exclusion and the inequality
suffered by poor people.
- Medium level: youth violence can be the result of lack of socio-communitarian support.
- Micro level: family dysfunction deepens the lack of emotional autonomy and sustainability in
children and teenagers.
Through a partnership with FUNHOPO,
we are conducting the following youth
activities to help minimize violence:
•
•
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Theater Performances at Pablo
Tesak Cultural Center focused on
the strengthening of values, and
violence prevention.
Workshop about leadership and
teamwork developed at Eco
Ventura Park of the Pablo Tesak
Experiential Foundation. The
objective is to increase learning
through complementary
leadership and teamwork workshops for
youth.
Individual Psychological Attention
Identification of cases by means of the
visits to communities, referred cases by
social promoters, and/or references
from schools or families.
Left: Puppet creation with children from six communities
Top Right: Puppet Show at Yulkuikat theatre. The
performance was focused on human rights.
Bottom Right: Matinee at Yulkuikat theatre with children,
youth & parents from six beneficiary communities
Details on Agricultural Activities:
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Construction of hydroponic tables and preparation of nutrients. Hydroponic tables were made by
young boys in social high risk areas that are participating in peace-building programs such as “Nuevo
Amanecer” (New Awakening). In respect to the preparation of nutrients, these were prepared by the
agronomist in the Agricultural Development Center CHINAMPA, then they were delivered to each of the
communities to the coordinator for each center.
Assembly of hydroponic tables in communities to check efficiency of nutrients. As a team,
community members from Linea Ferrea, San Antonio Las Vegas, El Despertar, Montecarlo, El Carmen
and Istmania assembled and established hydroponic tables for planting yerba mora, spinach, lettuce,
radish and cilantro. They also learned how to prepare the nutrient mix for these plants.
Sowing and preparation of nutrients for the new crop of yerba mora, spinach, lettuce, radish and
cilantro. Assembly of hydroponic orchards in the communities with a total of 1975 transplants of hierba
mora and spinach and 46 hydroponic nutrient kits delivered to beneficiaries by CHINAMPA agricultural
center staff.
Nutritional data collection. Data about height and weight of 254 children and teens in the beneficiary
communities was collected.
Delivery of food and culinary demonstrations with yerba mora and spinach. Monthly delivery of
Mana Pack and to families, and culinary demonstrations using mora and spinach for families to show
them the benefits of including these plants in the diet and improve their nutritional status. 96 boxes of
Manna Pack Rice were given to the six communities.
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
• Continue with violence data collection.
• Psychosocial Dialogues and workshop on violence, human rights and peace culture.
• Visits and monitoring of community orchards to identify any problems.
• Collection of weight and height and delivery of food (Manna Pack)
Leadership and teamwork workshop with young people from Linea Ferrea community