Faced
with the growing number of street children who dropped out
or never went to school, the city government, in partnership
with the Jaycees and UNICEF launched in 1992 the Agora Mobile
School. The key feature of the program is the school itself,
which can be moved from one area to another (usually where
the there is high incidence of street children). The street
school is made of a portable push cart, tables, chairs,
a blackboard and tent. A childcare worker manages the school
together with a social worker that handles case studies
of children and parents. A task force on street children
monitors and evaluates the program.
After
4 years, the program has a total of 100 direct beneficiaries
-- 50 of whom have been integrated in the formal education
system and have excelled in their respective classes.
The
program has succeeded in keeping the children away from
mendicancy, preparing them for formal education, developing
social values, providing guidance and counseling, and assisting
children of working age in acquiring skills for livelihood.
The children, aged 7 to 17 are provided with the following
services: educational assistance, supplemental feeding,
skills training for gainful employment, and exposure to
socio-cultural activities such as trips to industrial plants,
parks and beaches. Parent-child encounters and effective
parenting training sessions are also organized. The program
also protects the children from adult exploitation and from
drugs.
