NICARAGUA: REHABILITATION CENTRE FOR STREET CHILDREN скачать в хорошем качестве

NICARAGUA: REHABILITATION CENTRE FOR STREET CHILDREN

(28 Sep 1997) Spanish/Nat A rehabilitation centre in Nicaragua is offering street children a chance to get off the streets and start a new life. 'Casa Ave Maria' - founded eight years ago in the town of Masaya - houses some 600 children. It gives them room and board, and teaches them skills to use when they leave. This is 'Casa Ave Maria' in the Nicaraguan town of Masaya. It is a rehabilitation centre for street children founded eight years ago by a local resident with the support of a Canadian and a Dutch organisation. The centre is home to some 600 children of all ages. The children receive a bed to sleep in and food to eat. During the day they take part in a series of physical and educational activities. Here the children learn a trade that could be useful when they grow up and leave the centre. More importantly the refuge centre helps them get off the streets. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "It's main objective is to, first, rescue the children from drugs, abuse, exploitation and prostitution - because we do have some children who have been prostitutes. To rescue then from crime, from begging, from drug addiction and rejection from society. We fight against all forms of rejection especially in regard to innocent people." SUPER CAPTION: Ronaldo Montenegro, founder of 'Casa Ave Maria' Most children living at the centre come from dysfunctional families. They took to the streets to escape from poverty and physical abuse. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) My mother used to beat me whenever I misbehaved. She would burn my feet, whip me with the iron's cable or beat me with a stick. She would take me to the bathroom and beat me or she would take the iron and burn my back." SUPER CAPTION: Donald Martinez, resident of 'Casa Ave Maria' On the streets many of these children used drugs, sniffed glue, stole or became prostitutes. Now, 'Casa Ave Maria' is giving them a chance to put that behind and start a new life. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "Now I'm here, Thank God. Here they give me shoes, clothes, shirts. I'm in a soccer team, and I'm learning how to make cups." SUPER CAPTION: Donald Martinez, resident of 'Casa Ave Maria' SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) I'm here because I want to learn. I've already learned pastry and I want to learn how to make hammocks. They're also helping me because I want to continue studying, I want to graduate from high school." SUPER CAPTION: Maritza de los Angeles Tapia, resident of 'Casa Ave Maria' "Casa Ave Maria' is a non-government institution. Forty-per cent of its finances come from the Dutch branch of Caritas and a Canadian Christian organisation. The rest of the money is collected from the sale of the crafts made by the children and other services provided by the centre. Experts say the legacy of the civil war, the economic crisis and the lack of government support have caused an increase in the number of street children. 'Casa Ave Maria' now hopes it can at least help some of these children get on the right track to a better life. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...