REYES RENE VALENZUELA SCHOOL

A Project run bySOCIEDAD AMIGOS DE LOS

NIÑOS

“ “ TheThe Reyes Irene Valenzuela Reyes Irene Valenzuela School located in Tegucigalpa, School located in Tegucigalpa, Honduras Honduras waswas founded in 2001 founded in 2001 as an answer to the problems as an answer to the problems confronted by poor adolescent confronted by poor adolescent

girls girls

in the Third World: deprivation in the Third World: deprivation of of

basic human rights, limited basic human rights, limited formal education, few formal education, few

protection from sexual abuse, protection from sexual abuse, and isolation from the larger and isolation from the larger

society.society.

WhoWho was Reyes Irene was Reyes Irene ValenzuelaValenzuela

REYES IRENE VALENZUELAREYES IRENE VALENZUELA(1918 – 2001)(1918 – 2001)

Reyes Irene dedicated her life to help the Children and Women of Honduras, and was co-founder

of Sociedad Amigos de los niños, working side by side with

Sister Maria RosBy the way she was Mae’s Aunt

OUR STUDENTSOUR STUDENTS

Girls between the ages of 12 to 18, most of whom are Girls between the ages of 12 to 18, most of whom are migrants from the countryside and teh poorest parts of migrants from the countryside and teh poorest parts of the city. the city.

They often come from broken homes where domestic They often come from broken homes where domestic violence, extreme poverty and little formal educaiton violence, extreme poverty and little formal educaiton prevail. prevail.

From an early age these young girls have to work as From an early age these young girls have to work as maids and in other areas of the informal sector, such as maids and in other areas of the informal sector, such as street vendors and often exposed to economic street vendors and often exposed to economic exploitation, physical and psychological abuse. exploitation, physical and psychological abuse.

OUR OBJECTIVEOUR OBJECTIVE

To To erradicateerradicate the worst types of the worst types of child labor through a program child labor through a program offering prevention, protection offering prevention, protection

and education. To teach the and education. To teach the girls their legal rights girls their legal rights

established by the United established by the United Nations and Honduran Law.Nations and Honduran Law.

STATISTICSSTATISTICS

There are more than 351,350 There are more than 351,350 working children in Honduras. working children in Honduras.

A great majority of these A great majority of these children are adolescent girls children are adolescent girls working as maids with no working as maids with no labour rights. labour rights.

IMPACTIMPACT

• They feel they have been torn abruptly from their They feel they have been torn abruptly from their familiesfamilies

• They abandon school and friends, forced to work They abandon school and friends, forced to work 14 hour days14 hour days

• They are given jobs that go beyond their They are given jobs that go beyond their psychological and physical endurance psychological and physical endurance

• They feel imprisoned in their labor environment They feel imprisoned in their labor environment leading to depression and sadnessleading to depression and sadness

IMPACT ON THE GIRLSIMPACT ON THE GIRLS• Early pregnancy due to ignorance and /or sexual Early pregnancy due to ignorance and /or sexual

abuseabuse

• Low income that prevents escaping from poverty Low income that prevents escaping from poverty ..

• Victims of social discrimination due to their Victims of social discrimination due to their origin, gender or raceorigin, gender or race

• Victims of physical / emotional abuse, sexual Victims of physical / emotional abuse, sexual harassment and rape.harassment and rape.

• Average salary $40.00/month – if paid at all.. Average salary $40.00/month – if paid at all..

We provide Holistic education inWe provide Holistic education in

SexualitySexuality

Self esteemSelf esteem

LeadershipLeadership

Knowledge of their rightsKnowledge of their rights

Elementary / Secondary schoolElementary / Secondary school

Medical AttentionMedical Attention

•Legal and Psychological Legal and Psychological AssistanceAssistance

Quique (lawyer)

Technical WorkshopsTechnical Workshops

Computer Computer

Arts and CraftsArts and Crafts

CosmethologyCosmethology

TailoringTailoring

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIESRECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES MusicMusic

Quique (musician)

Folk DancesFolk Dances

SPORTS AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIESSPORTS AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

OUTCOMESOUTCOMES

175 Young women have 175 Young women have left child labor situations left child labor situations for better paying jobs for better paying jobs with benefitswith benefits

102 finished High School 102 finished High School

115 in University115 in University

28 working in their own 28 working in their own new small businessesnew small businesses

ExpectationsExpectations Empower young women to Empower young women to

advocate for changes in unjust labor advocate for changes in unjust labor laws and any other abuse of dignity.laws and any other abuse of dignity.

To raise the educational level of the To raise the educational level of the girls girls

To provide technical skills.To provide technical skills.

ExpectationsExpectations

To reach and participate in a To reach and participate in a legislation that protects the child.legislation that protects the child.

Creation of micro-enterprises that Creation of micro-enterprises that will generate higher income and will generate higher income and better working conditions.better working conditions.

““to protect to protect and educate and educate children is a children is a labor of love, labor of love, of humanity, of humanity,

and of and of reason.reason.””

Sr. Maria RosaSr. Maria Rosa

Gracias Friends Of Honduran Gracias Friends Of Honduran ChildrenChildren

For helping us build a better For helping us build a better futurefuture

for ourselves, our families and for ourselves, our families and our country.our country.

The 420 young women The 420 young women of Reyes Irene of Reyes Irene

Valenzuela SchoolValenzuela School