Casa Juventud y Paz

We are beginning a youth center which will help the children of migrant Nicaraguans here in Costa Rica to break out of the cycle of poverty. The Center will specifically focus on skills training (technology, craftsmanship, training for single mothers), after school activities, leadership training and networking with other organizations focused on migrant issues. The idea is to create an incubator for young leaders in the migrant community with the self-initiative,confidence and skills to solve their own pressing problems.

Because of Costa Rica’s relative democratic, economic and social stability, our country has experienced an influx of around 1 million Nicaraguan immigrants. The children of Nicaraguan immigrants face difficult challenges in adapting to their new homeland. These challenges include discrimination, lack of opportunities, and living conditions which promote further exclusion and marginalization. Costa Rica is still a developing nation and lacks resources to combat the problems faced by large migrant communities. In many cases, youth, lacking opportunities for work and education, turn to youth delinquency, premature parenthood, gang involvement and other criminal activities.

Our activities will draw on cultural traditions which will give the youths an awareness and sense of pride in their Nicaraguan Heritage. This sense of cultural pride will serve to combat Nicaraguan’s societal role as a marginalized population and will promote self worth among youth and a realization of their capacity to achieve more. We plan to identify a small group of youth leaders (around 30 students) who will conduct specific demonstrations of their new skills in their communities and schools every 6 months. The idea is to create positive role models and agents for change.