Annual Report (2016): Developing Abilities and Learning Responsibilities to Transform the Environment

The program, implemented by Alianza Heartland México (AHM) in collaboration with Heartland Alliance International (HAI) and Promoción de Paz (PPAZ), focuses on three strategic objectives: fostering healthy relationships, developing vocational and entrepreneurship skills, and engaging families and community stakeholders to respond to escalating violence and criminal activity. During the first year of implementation, the DHARTE program reached more than 3,600 children and adolescents, 49 school personnel, and 65 family members through its diverse workshop series. AHM implemented DHARTE activities in three primary schools and seven middle schools along the Monterrey Metropolitan Area (MMA). The program's emphasis on art has proven to be a transformative and positive tool in AHM's work with local communities, with two major events held during this reporting period, including the Open Screening in Monterrey's International Film Festival and an event led by a guest artist in collaboration with the MARCO Museum and PPAZ. The program's evaluation efforts focused on reflecting on lessons learned and identifying promising practices, which will inform the planning and design of activities in year two of the program. AHM has been invited to provide trainings and presentations on the risk assessment tool and the data it gathers, and will share its findings with policy-making and violence prevention working groups. PPAZ, AHM's partner, conducted various community-based activities, inviting youth to develop proposals for social projects that will contribute to and create positive change within their communities. The program's indicators for year one show promising results, with 33% of families reporting an improvement in their relationship with their child, and 81% of participating youth reporting a decrease in feeling threatened or intimidated by their classmates or school staff. The number of school staff trained increased by 245%, and the number of youth reached in the school-based program increased by 200%. The program also reported a 333% increase in the number of relatives with at least one child in the school-based program. The DHARTE program's success in engaging public and private stakeholders has led to the recruitment of volunteers to provide workplace training and employment services, and the securing of school scholarships for youth and their families. AHM is currently evaluating options for continuity of program activities previously implemented by PPAZ, including the possibility of direct implementation and/or the identification of an alternative partner organization. The program's focus on life skills development, vocational and entrepreneurship skills, and family engagement has shown promising results in reducing the risk of crime and violence involvement among at-risk youth. The program's emphasis on art as a medium for social transformation has proven to be a positive and transformative tool in AHM's work with local communities. As the program continues to evolve and grow, it is expected to have a lasting impact on the lives of at-risk youth in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon.