Displaced and street children's project, PROCIPOTES : project no. 519-0420 -- project assistance completion report

The project was implemented by Medical Service Corporation International (MSCI). The project's integrated model of service delivery, comprising education/recreation, health care, socioeconomic support, community participation, and intersectoral coordination, proved effective in rehabilitating children, reuniting them with their families, and reintegrating them into society. PROCIPOTES was also able to improve the children's living conditions and health status and to reduce the social and educational risk factors that favored their return to the street. Specifically, under the project: 168 children recovered from drug addictions and never relapsed; 1,106 children received complete scholarships; 1,066 children completed and passed their school grade; 656 beneficiaries completed vocational training and work; 1,883 children in crisis corrected their behavioral problems through therapy; 3,500 children benefitted from medical consultation and treatment; 1,965 boys and girls were organized into children's committees; 1,423 parents were organized into parents' committees; 420 institutions and organizations participated in committees; 20,508 beneficiaries participated in health education activities; and 30,252 people participated in activities that promoted children's rights. (Statistical data taken from the annexed final report by MSCI [XD-ABR-623-A]). The project also: developed an effective NGO service delivery network; created a motivated field staff through ongoing supervision and training; designed and implemented innovative and appropriate strategies and methods for dealing with street children's problems; and mobilized extensive community participation in the project. The following lessons were learned: (1) Investing in institutional strengthening pays off. Of the five NGOs who participated in the project, four continue to provide services, although at a reduced level or in altered form. (2) Personnel development and training is important. The level of personnel turnover was costly to the program. (3) Community participation, including the use of volunteers and the donation by city halls of space and personnel, was key to achieving results. (4) Individual therapies for the children were costly and were not more effective than group interventions. (6) Halfway houses did not prove to be a worthwhile strategy. (7) The project has only limited sustainability. The ongoing efforts of participating NGOs do not address displaced youths' larger needs, nor have efforts to meet these needs been institutionalized by the Government of El Salvador.