Visiting the kids

The main project I´m going to be working on with AMUCOBU is their Youth Education Team. Since 2000, Maria Lopez and Gustavo Araica have been organizing youth in the community to address problems that they experience having to do with sexuality, pregnancy, STD prevention, self esteem, communication, domestic violence and drug-alcohol use. Initially, they visited each house in the barrio, introducing themselves to the youth and parents, and inviting them to attend recreational events, meetings and workshops. It´s grown since then, from their initial group of 20 youth to over 80 that are currently involved. Friday and Monday, Maria, Gustavo and I walked around the neighborhood visiting some of the youth in the group. We took a shortcut up a rocky, garbage-strewn corridor between corrugated metal fences across the street from the office and turned to the right. A few houses down, we met Sochi, a 15-year old chica who was sitting outside her house in her school uniform on a plastic chair. Maria invited her to the recreational activity on Sunday and we went on our way. We stopped at at least a dozen homes, some in better condition than others. Some of the youth were at work, and we spoke to their parents or siblings. Some had younger babies walking around the house half-naked. We stopped by Fatima's house, one of the staff at the office, and met her 3 sons. Miguel Angel, the oldest, is a grafitti and tattoo artist. Their front wall was painted with grafitti letters and an image of Che Guevara. He and his brother were both wearing Che shirts and they had FSLN posters pasted to the front doorway. It struck me as we were walking around the grassroots nature of the youth organizing project. The 2 organizers are both from this neighborhood and can identify with the troubles that the youth experience growing up in poverty. They also are able to connect with the parents of the youth and help them support their kids through some of the struggles that they´re going through. I´m really excited to learn more about youth organizing from the youth and the team...