Name of Work: Street Children’s Project Foundation

Aim of Work: To offer street children and others in at-risk situations an holistic education to improve their circumstances of life

Work directed to: street children at risk, from age 5 to 17

Number of young people who have benefitted: 3500

Name of Director of the Work: Fr Ivano Zanovello (North Zone)
Fr Pedro Vidal (Coastal region) and Fr Angel López (PACES)

Number of Salesians involved: 10 Salesians (2 in Quito, 6 in Guayaquil and 2 in Cuenca.) Fr. Ivano Zanovello, Br. Sosio Gudencio, Fr. Pedro Vidal, Fr. Marco Paredes, Fr. Miglio Ángel, Fr. Jaime Calero, Br. Gregorio Pérez, Br. Carlos Martínez, Fr. Angel López and Fr. Juan Cardenas.

Number of lay helpers: 200

1. SOCIAL-EDUCATIONAL PRESENCE IN THE STREETS
Development of educational activity in the streets for young people and young workers in order to improve their abilities, raise self-esteem, strengthen their sense of identity and prevent or lessen their dependency on the street, their use of drugs and falling into crime.

2. RE-INSERTION INTO FAMILY
Offering street children temporary residence, basic health services food and psychological help while trying to re-insert them into family and society.

3. WORKING WITH FAMILY AND COMMUNITY
• Supporting or implementing innovative social work experiences in outer urban areas, giving priotity to values of justice, solidarity and fraternal assistance.
• Accompanying and instructing families and those who benefit from the PSCHC-N Foundation so they neither exploit nor mistreat the children, encouraging attitudes of respect, affection and responsibile parenthood
• Motivating the various agents in society (families, local groups, schools, media, etc.), with a view to creating a new culture of childhood that recognises childrens’ rights, and adopòting ethical criteria regarding this.

4. NETWORKING
Fostering communication and other networking, at national and regional level and with civil and church organisations with a view to consolidating a culture of solidarity and coordinated action on behalf of street children.

5. ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION
Seeing that the work that street children find does not stop them from studying; developing a program that facilitates access, and remaining in school, involving teachers, families and the children themselves.

6. LIBERATING EVANGELISATION
Offering Gospel values to street children and young workers, fostering a Christian view of life and history and the building up of society as God intended it.

7. PREPATION FOR WORK
Creative efforts to improve the technical-professional abilities of children who benefit from the PSCHC-N Foundation, involving various social agnecies, in an effort to reduce the need to go on the streets, promote a life of greater dignity for families and the children, amd prepare children for the working world.

8. YOUTH ORGANISATIONS
Fostering organisations (groups, associations, etc.) for street children and young workers aimed at strengthening the involvement of young people and developing their abilities as young citizens, helping them to defend and exercise their rights.