PROMOCION INTEGRAL DE LA MUJER Y LA INFANCIA (INFANTE)
Volunteer/ Internship requirements:
- Beginner to Intermediate Spanish
- Some knowledge/experience in education, counseling or psychology is preferred
- Interest in working with young women who have been victims of abuse
- Confidentiality with participants
- Due to the sensitive nature of some projects female volunteers over the age of 21 are preferred
- A minimum commitment period of 1 to 3 months
Background:
With the help of Sister Geraldine Kline, INFANTE was founded September 1, 1987 by Patricia Vargas, Antonieta Torrico and Maruja Chej de Peneloga. As national adoption was considerably more difficult than international adoption, Sister Kline set up the National Adoption Campaign.
The early ’90s saw the creation of social policy that would support youth who were at risk of abandonment. There was a rise in demand for child rights protection and as a result the “Temporary Family Homes and National Adoption Program” was developed. It put into practice a rigorous new adoption procedure with high standards for adoptive couples. In addition, more and more people began requesting placements for children of adolescent mothers living in poverty or abusive situations.
During the latter part of the 90s two important laws were implemented as part of each municipal government: Law 1674 (against inter-familial and domestic violence) and Popular Participation Law 1551 (for child and adolescent rights). INFANTE also organized the “National Campaign Against Traffic & Abuse of Children Adolescents.” The “Camino a la Alegria” project, which works for the prevention and protection of victims of sexual violence, was then introduced in 2006.
Objectives:
INFANTE’s main goal is to support victims of domestic and sexual violence. The organization aims to defend the rights of those violated and to raise community awareness. INFANTE provides a safe location for victims, as well as psychological support and workshops to help them reintegrate back into society. INFANTE has played a key role in the promotion of new local and national policies to restore victims’ rights.
Who does INFANTE help?
The INFANTE staff of thirty eight professionals works to help those who are victims of abuse (sexual, physical or psychological). Many are young children and adolescents who fall prey to intra-familial violence. Those from marginalized communities are represented as well.
Furthermore, INFANTE provides assistance to individuals and families interested in participating in the temporary foster home program.
How to get there:
The main office of INFANTE is located in the northern zone of Cochabamba, ten minutes from the main square. It is easily accessible with a taxi trufi no.120
INFANTE PROGRAMS:
The Women’s Shelter:
The shelter provides women and child victims of abuse with a safe space and support, which includes professional counseling.
Volunteer/ internship opportunities include:
- Provide support for victims
- Raise community awareness
- Monitor/evaluate shelters
- Provide educational workshops/activities
- Assist in violence prevention workshops
- Work with other organizations to build a nationwide network
Program Supervisor:
Licenciada Martha Lopez
Camino a la Alegria:
Camino a la Alegria is a shelter that focuses its attention on adolescent victims of sexual assault and abuse. The shelter has provided support and counseling to over 200 victims since 2006.
Volunteer/ internship opportunities include:
- Provide support/help staff
- Design and run educational workshops
- Raise awareness in the community
- Work with institutions such as the Cochabamba Departmental Committee Against Child & Adolescent Sexual Abuse
- Support victims in finding educational/career opportunities
Program supervisor:
Jenny Cazas
Recovering Estrellitas:
Recovering Estrellitas provides support and counseling for child victims of domestic and sexual violence. The program dedicates its efforts toward restoring the basic rights of innocent children.
Volunteer/ internship opportunities include:
- Provide support for victims
- Help improve/create new educational resources
- Assist in carrying out psychologically therapeutic programs
- Raise awareness of children’s rights
- Provide support for parents of victims
- Help with integration back into the family by organizing meetings, working with other institutions, carrying out workshops
- Build campaigns/lobby for change
Program supervisor:
Licenciada Martha Lopez
Foster Family Project:
This project helps find secure foster families for children in four different departments. Projects concentrate on such issues as increasing national adoption rates, promotion of child rights, and abuse prevention.
Volunteer/ internship opportunities include:
- Family Recover & Reintegration project (helping to integrate children into foster/adoptive homes)
- Public Education on Foster Families (working with other NGOs and raising awareness through workshops and campaigns)
- Public Policy Awareness for Child Protection (working with other NGOs and lobbying for public policy to protect children)
- Community Empowerment (designing and implementing workshops/skill shares to empower adolescents)
Program supervisor:
Dr Jinky Irusta
Women’s Leadership Training:
This program is designed to help those who are marginalized and come from abusive situations to develop their leadership skills. This training empowers women to take on a more active role in the community.
Volunteer/ internship opportunities include:
- Design and carry out workshops
- Work with other institutions to raise awareness
- Develop campaigns to promote equality
Program supervisor:
Licenciada Francisa Dijon
Campaign for the Fight Against Human Abuse and Trafficking:
The goal of this campaign is to raise awareness about the trafficking of women and children. Programs have been created to make the community more aware of how serious a problem human trafficking is and lobbyists have been fighting for social change. The campaign networks with other organizations and governmental institutions to provide the public with information on prevention and protection.
Volunteer/ internship opportunities include:
- To work in collaboration with other NGOs (further communication and relationships)
- Assist or run workshops
- Design educational resources
Program Supervisor:
Shirley Mendez |
