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Why was Caracol Formed?
To fill the void to care for
street youths who in 1994 had no alternative but to leave school after reaching
18 years of age. For this reason the youths we deal with are between the ages
of 15 to 23 years of age.
Another flaw was the absence
of a program that offered them work skills and a program of life skills in an
established time period. From the beginning we defined this intervention as
temporary lasting 18 months.
Why the organization is called El Caracol?
The name has its origins in
an Aztec legend when the Aztec God Quetzalcoatl used the marine shell so that
through him he could provide the divine wind to help men realize their own
capacities. It is probable that El Caracol was at that time a school for
warriors. For this reason, El Caracal AC
is a space for teaching so that the youths can face life with more skills.
What is the purpose of El Caracol?
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To consider the theme of street youths and street
children
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To develop new and innovative educational material
- The formation and capacitation of street educators
in Mexico
and in other countries
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To exchange experience in both national and
international networks
Why does El Caracol have 10 steps?
The ten steps represent the
10 stages in the education process set out by El Caracol. The duration of each of
these steps depends on the profile of the educator, and the stage in which he
or she enters El Caracol. It is not always necessary to go through all stages in the
education process. These stages help us to identify the educational necessities
of each of the youth who find themselves in the transitory house.
- Street
work
- Visits
- Preadmission
- Admission
- Responsibility
- Treatment
- Belonging
- Need
to leave
- Leave
- Follow
up
What programs does El Caracal have?
The transition house, A hostel that acts as a
transition for street youths and those in a situation of social risk. Permits
space to think in order to permit the formation of routine and values.
Producing together, Develops educational
workshops and capacitating training for work. We use a bakery and a cafeteria.
SOS in the streets, Carries out intervention
work in the street, empty buildings, lots and sewers, offering alternative ways
of life.
Currently implements the
models to prevent HIV/aids through programs such as chiras pelas, calacas flacas.
Parents and Friends, Does educational work in
the community, within and for families in marginalized areas, in order to
prevent youths from going to the street. Fermenting healthy ways of life.
Institutional strengthening, The objective of
this is to systematize and evaluate each project, as a result of close monitoring.
In addition to the formation of street educators from other institutions.
What type of rehabilitation do the youth have?
High-risk behaviors, in
terms of lifestyle, human development and social abilities that guarantee their
emotional and economic autonomy.
What kind of difficulties do the youth complain of
upon entering El Caracol?
The biggest problem is the
absence of any positive emotional attachment, the gratifying experience of
living on the street and the drug culture on the streets; such as addiction to
substance or physical deterioration.
What kind of treatment is offered to the youths?
The intervention covers two
distinctive areas: the re-education of substances and clinical treatment.
What activities to the youth do in El Caracol?
The activities are diverse
and have to respond to the process of re-education or to clinical treatment.
Every activity is personalized to meet the needs of the youth in order to
achieve changes in all aspects of their lives.
What kinds of personnel work in the institution?
The majority of people who work in the institution are professionals with
a university education and many years of experience. We also have personnel who
support our operation and specific tasks. In this way we involve individual
volunteers or those volunteering through social services, who cooperate with
these tasks along side the permanent staff.
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