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Since 1999, Manos del Sur has been successful in providing assistance to more than 1,000 children in 6 countries. The organization began its efforts in Argentina as a response to the severe economic crisis that the country has endured in the last four years. With each success came the opportunity to extend assistance to even more children in other countries such as as Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Venezuela. The economic and social situation in Latin America makes evident the great urgency in providing assistance to these special children.
*Source : World Bank, World Development Indicators database August 2003 As a consequence of the financial crisis in Argentina, the social situation has worsened considerably in the past few years. The poverty rate more than doubled between 1999 y 2003 reaching 55% of the total population and the indigence rate grew from 6.7% to 26% (Indec May 2003). The situation is most severe when we consider that 73.5% of children ages between 0 and 14 are poor and 41.4% percent of the total children are indigent (Indec October 2002). The government has implemented social programs to reduce poverty and public opinion and civil organizations have become more aware of the problem, but that has not been enough to alleviate the situation of millions of children who go to bed hungry every night. In Argentina, Fundacion Manos del Sur puts special emphasis in implementing its Integrated Assistance Program, providing hundreds of children with nourishing meals, healthcare and education assistance through “Apoyos Escolares”.
Source
: Chile is a country with a population of 15.6 million people, with an urban population of 86%. Although poverty has decreased in 10 years, further reductions are proving difficult. In the last five years, the gross net income GNI per capita fell in 13%, and the growth rate fell in 46% due to the economic recession of the region. However, Chile is making an important effort in instituting reforms in different social areas, particularly health and education. The
education reform augmented the time children spend at the classroom
through measures that expand coverage of preschool education, increase
compulsory education from 9 to 12 school years and improve educational
programs and learning skills. However, there are still many children
in poverty who go to bed hungry at night and the need for everyone
to contribute and help make their life a little easier.
Source : For years, Colombia has been a battleground in the struggle for control of the drug war. The country has been plagued with violence, bombs, killings, and kidnappings. The violence has created more than 100,000 refugees and 2 million Colombians have fled the country. With the flight of people comes also the flight of capital further leading to economic instability. With the focus on combating war and corruption, the government has had a limited capacity to place priority on social programs. Nevertheless, according to UNICEF, some progress has been made. There has been a decrease in the mortality rate, and the intensification of immunization activities for children to re-establish coverage of 85% by 2003. Furthermore, in Colombia, over 1 million children between the ages of five and 17 are working, and commercial sexual exploitation has become a widespread problem. The government has made some progress in instituting reform in health, education, and the alleviation of poverty, but it is not happening fast enough. Fifty-five percent of Colombians live in poverty and the number of poor children is increasing every day. Fundación Manos del Sur puts special emphasis in implementing its Integrated Assistance Program (IAP), providing children with nourishing meals, healthcare and education assistance. By meeting their basic needs children will grow up healthy and educated so that they can face a better future.
Sources
: In the last few years, the government has been making slow adjustments in government policy in order to tackle the widespread poverty in the country. The country’s major challenge is achieving political stability in order to provide sustained policies to address social problems. According to National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC), Ecuador recovered from economic crisis in 2002 growing at 5.4%, but inflation still remained at 22%. According to UNICEF, nearly 70% of Ecuador’s children live in poverty, and more than 400,000 children between ages 5 and 17 work. Malnutrition affects 14 percent of children under 5 and government programs only cover 8% of eligible children. In Ecuador, Fundación Manos del Sur is implementing the Integrated Assistance Program (IAP), which provides children with nourishing meals, healthcare and education assistance. These programs provide relief for malnutrition and illnesses that can gravely impair the children’s capacity to grow into healthy adults, their capacity to attend school and learn so that they can have a better future.
Sources
: UNICEF Statistics At a Glance, 2001. After the peace agreement of 1992, which ended a 13 year civil war, El Salvador has enjoyed a steady rate of growth that has helped improve the country’s economic situation. However, a decade of growth has not been enough to alleviate poverty. El Salvador is one of the most populated countries in the world with 6.5 million living in only 21,040 square kilometers. The coffee industry, the country’s main export sector has been in crisis for the last three years. Furthermore, the country suffered a devastating earthquake in 2001, as well as droughts and floods. In 2002, 49% of the country’s population lived in conditions of extreme poverty, and those most affected were the children. According to UNICEF (2001), out of 1,000 births 33 children die before their first birthday and 39 before their fifth birthday. In terms of education, only 42% of El Salvador’s children attend primary school. The government has made some progress in instituting reforms in health, nutrition education and specific programs to reduce poverty, but it is not happening fast enough. There is still rampant poverty and therefore the need for everyone to contribute to alleviate the situation of millions of children who go to bed hungry every night. Our first project in El Salvador puts special emphasis in healthcare, providing 50 children who suffer diabetes with the medicines and supplies they need to control their medical condition. (link to project)
Mexico
Nicaragua
(1) The World
Bank Group, 2002 In 2002, Venezuela recorded the highest economic contraction in the last 50 years: 8.9 percent of GDP. This year’s gross national income, GNI, equaled that in 1858. The government estimates a contraction of about 11 percent in 2003. This indicates that in the last two years, the cumulative drop rounds 20 percent. Poverty (71%), unemployment (20%), and informal jobs (50%), have increased dramatically, in spite of highest income from the increase of the oil price. Social programs from the government are not sufficient to alleviate the situation of millions of children in need, abandoned, and in danger. Data regarding the public education system, indicates that 40% of the teachers are under-educated and 60% of the educational institutions lack of principals. In Venezuela, Fundación Manos del Sur puts special emphasis in implementing its Integrated Assistance Program, providing children with nourishing meals, healthcare and education assistance. |
