PASO : Support and Solidarity Programme for Young People in Street Situations in Peru
Peru
Lima
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Context
In Peru, more than one million children and adolescents are involved in child labour, among whom more than 670 000 are not in school and rely on street work to meet their basic needs. This situation is often a result of poverty, domestic violence and abuse, and the breakdown of their families.
Some turn to alcohol and drugs as a means of coping with their situation. They face multiple forms of abuse on the streets, from sexual and labour exploitation to severe social discrimination. There is very limited official support or assistance available to these marginalised young people, and they are often forcibly and violently removed from urban centres and tourist areas by the police.
Local Partners
Sinergia por la Infancia, Casa Generación, Collectif Hagamos Visible Lo Invisible
Objectives
To contribute to the protection of children and young people in street situations and the promotion of their rights in Lima and across Peru :
- Provide care and long-term support for children in street situations to take them from the street to social and professional reintegration.
- Advocate for the promotion and protection of the rights of children and adolescents in street situations.
- Strengthen the operational and organisational capacities of our partners and other local child protection actors.
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Activities
Through street outreach work, our partners aim to build trust with children and their families, provide support, ensure access to education for school-age children, and guide children towards one of their shelters based on their individual needs.
The shelters are welcoming spaces designed around children’s needs helping them reintegrate into school, receive academic support and take part in sports and recreational activities (e.g. surfing, skateboarding, drama). Some young people also benefit from vocational training, provided in-house (e.g. bakery, pastry-making, arts) or through private, state-recognised training institutions. Children are also able to participate in educational programmes that strengthen their knowledge of their own rights.
At the initiative of our partners and several local organisations, a national collective for children in street situations — Hagamos Visible Lo Invisible (“Making the Invisible Visible”) — was created to structure and coordinate advocacy efforts. The collective works to promote the rights of children in street situations, strengthen cooperation among stakeholders, and call on public authorities to develop policies adapted to non-linear life paths. Through PASO, FAAI and its partners help foster a collective voice advocating for the full and effective recognition of the rights of children in street situations.
Linked programmes
Child protection
Support children in street situations to promote their rights and reintegrate them sustainably into society.