BOYS' & GIRLS' TOWNS OF LATIN AMERICA

EXPANSION TO LATIN AMERICA

​On June 12, 2018, the Board of Directors of A Chance In Life approved the expansion of our programs to Latin America. It was a memorable day for our organization allowing us to bring the vision of our founder to more continents, serving over 1,000 at-risk children living on the margins of society in Peru, Colombia, Bolivia and Guatemala.

Boys' & Girls' Towns of Peru

​In the barrios of Chimbote and San Juan de Lurigancho, the streets are made of sand, perched in the desert hills on the outskirts Lima. In these impoverished neighborhoods, houses are built with scrap metal, and many families find it hard to provide their children with an education, much less food and water.

A Chance In Life now supports two programs in the area, providing 510 boys and girls with an opportunity to go to school and focus on their future. The programs also provide their families with basic needs to ensure a healthy home environment for the children.

Boys' & Girls' Towns of Colombia

In Colombia, A Chance In Life has partnered with three different programs in the cities of Bogota and Medellín, serving over 270 boys and girls. Each child in the program is given a home, an education and the opportunity to develop as a self-confident and responsible member of his or her community, as well as access to workshops like music and sports. The children come from extremely poor conditions, and stay overnight at the program. Some choose to visit their families over the weekend.

Boys' & Girls' Towns of Bolivia

​Societal and economic imbalances in the country of Bolivia make living conditions for families under the poverty line extremely difficult. Parents in developing areas of the cities have a hard time putting food on the table, so they encourage their children to join the workforce for the survival of the family. For these reasons, Bolivia’s labor laws allow children to legally begin working at the age of ten. According to Bolivian National Institute of Statistics, 17.1% of children between the ages of 7 and 17 are working. That amounts to 100,000 at-risk youths forced by poverty to prioritize work over their education and their childhood.
 
A Chance In Life is committing to join the fight to end child labor in Bolivia. We now support a program for working children in Cochabamba, where 140 boys and girls have a chance to develop their emotional and social skills, focus on their education by strengthening their academic performances, and receive career advice and technical training. The program also prioritizes family support, by providing basic needs and emphasizing the importance of education for the future of their children.

Boys' & Girls' Towns of Guatemala

In Guatemala, A Chance In Life is partnering with four programs between Guatemala City, Cuilapa and Sumpango. ​These programs focus on orphans and children living in extreme poverty. Collectively, they serve 160 boys and girls and offers them a chance to focus on their education, grow their confidence and interpersonal skills, and start building their future. 
A Chance In Life  |  250 East 63rd Street, Suite 204, New York, NY 10065  |  ​© 2016 A Chance In Life  | We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit formerly known as ​Boys' Towns of Italy, Inc.