Program with Children, Adolescents and the Family
The Coordinator of the Program with Children, Adolescents and the Family of CIEMAL
(Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches in Latin America and the Caribbean) presents
the PLAN FOR THE PROGRAM 2006 – 2008 which includes important elements
of diagnostics and analyses of the situation in which the children and adolescents
are living in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is
to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” And he laid his hands on them
and went on his way. Matthew 19:14-15
The proposal is based on the development of Faith and Principles of the Christian
Life as the important base for human development and the development the Family.
Awareness of the rights of children and adolescents within a framework of openness
and tolerance within the churches will be promoted. Therefore, all of us are called
to provide space and contexts within our churches where love and solidarity are
expressed to aid in the full development of life for our children and adolescents
At the present time more than 190 million children and adolescents live in Latin
America and the Caribbean and represent 40% of the total population. They are affected
by the multiple problems which are the result of the critical poverty of the region,
placing in jeopardy their most important rights.
The consequences of poverty are seen in the low quality of education, underachievement
in school and early abandonment of the classroom. In addition they are affected
by malnutrition, illiteracy, inadequate housing, lack of water and healthcare, crowded
living conditions and illnesses.
Poverty is a direct cause of the malnutrition which affects children under 5 (five)
years of age. This scourge of hunger increases the risk of early death because it
affects cognitive and emotional development. It is urgent that this problem be addressed
in order to assure their rights of survival and development. Action is this area
is a priority in the objectives of the Millennium developed by the UN.
At the same time millions of children and adolescents are victims of violence, mistreatment,
and sexual abuse which affect their health and the development of a systematic and
daily process in their daily life.
To address this issue CIEMAL, through the Program with Children, Adolescents and
the Family, is formulating training opportunities for church leaders to develop
a series of actions to meet the serious problems of children and adolescents which
are also linked to problems which are of a high social risk such as drug addiction,
street children, an increase in suicides, delinquency and street gangs.
In Latin America and the Caribbean more than 17 million children under the age of
14 work according to a report Publisher by the International Labor Organization,
(ILO). Seventy percent of those who work do so in the agricultural industry. The
ILO also points out that child labor is a potentially growing problem in the poorer
nations of the region.
Drug use and addiction among adolescents is dramatically affecting the lives of
millions of children and adolescents. The drug trade and corruption make it possible
for drugs to be available and fall int. Their hands. In Latin America and the Caribbean
approximately 21.7% of the adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 are already
affected by drugs.
Poverty, inequality and exclusion create a pattern of need in the lives of millions
of children and adolescents who early on begin to use drugs, which is a public health
problem.
As Christians we cannot remain indifferent to the reality in which our children
and adolescents live, and therefore we are called by the Gospel to give support
to the children in our churches and communities, in order that the lives of the
children and adolescents be the beginning and the end of a health life, and they
can walk on the path that leads to life, health and salvation. We are all called
to heal their internal wounds, to protect them and to leave behind indifference
and marginalization.
The Program with Children, Adolescents and the Family of CIEMAL seeks to place children
and adolescents as a priority on its agenda. Its strategic objectives include the
development of children and adolescents within the context of rights and equal opportunities,
having among its hoped for results the development of a Christian life, the prevention
of situations of violence and abuse, the struggle against drug use and prevention
of gang activity among the children and adolescents.
PLAN OF ACTION FOR THE WORK
Strategic objective 1
To promote training in Biblical learning through interactive programs such as using
Biblical puppets in working with children and adolescents in the Churches.
Strategic objective 2
To provide training for the leaders of the Churches on different areas of the rights
of children and adolescents, promoting the importance of their active participation
in the life of the church.
Strategic objective 3
To contribute to the sensitivity within the Chuches concerning actions of support
to prevent high risk situations for children and adolescents such as the prevention
of violence, mistreatment and sexual abuse.
Strategic objective 4
To promote the creation of Support Networks which will sustain the work with children
and adolescents and involve committed Christian leaders in the Churches.
Strategic objective 5
To develop Informative and educational materials as teaching resources oriented
toward the work with children and adolescents in the Churches.
METHODOLOGY
- Workshops for training will be held in each country and can be requested of the
Program with Children, Adolescents and the Family of CIEMAL by the Churches to organize,
coordinate and carry out the program.
- It is important to point out that the Coordinator of the Program with Children,
Adolescents and the Family of CIEMAL will give support to the organization and development
of projects which the churches are carrying out in each country and these projects
can be sent to the Coordinator.
- To give support to the development of proposals for the work in the Churches a network
of work and support for programs with children and adolescents is being set up.
Alicia Paredes
aliciap@ciemal.com.ar
PUBLICATIONS
Bulletin - Program with Children, Adolescents
and the Family
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