Las Tías, translation "the aunts." Las Tías is a day center located in León, Nicaragua. It is a place for children from unstable family situations. The children, for instance, face domestic violence, engage a significant part of their time in child labor, or are involved in petty crimes. The center's mission is to provide the children and youth a safe place to receive a formal education and become functional and positive members of society.
This is where I met 17 year old High School student, Tania Mariela, working on her chemistry homework while participating in the Las Tías Center 2 program. I was instantly drawn to Mariela when I noticed her holding the periodic table. In that moment I was taken back to my first high school chemistry classroom, where I struggled to understand the periodic table. That's when I introduced myself to Mariela and wanted to know more about her. She explained to me that she has been coming to Las Tías from a very young age because her mother was one of the original market woman of the Santos Barcenas market. During my time with Mariela I learned that having a safe place to go after school has been very important for her to stay focused on her studies. " I hope to become a doctor and help people here in León and in the future be a part of supporting Las Tías just like her mother. I am very thankful to Las Tías because here in León it is not always safe. There are many people addicted to drugs and alcohol that roam the streets and having a place to go after school like Las Tías I don't have to worry about such things. I can be with my friends and just be a normal student. It's also a place where we came to study together and work on problem solving. The added benefit of having volunteer tutors has also been helpful. Many of my friends also take advantage of the cooking, carpentry and sewing classes. This has been a wonderful place for all of us." At the end of our time together she mentioned that she is very proud of being Nicaraguan and thankful to Las Tías.
Las Tías started in an informal way in the 1980's as an initiative of 9 market women of the Santos Barcenas market. During the time of civil war and the following years, there had been many orphan children living around the market area and on the streets, facing problems such as drug abuse, crime, violence and prostitution. The women supplied the children with food, clothes and medical care. The name "Las Tías" (The aunts) actually comes from the children, who used the term to refer to the women. In 1989, the organization was legally formed. Today the focus is rather on prevention. Currently, 85% of the children and youth being assisted at Las Tías have managed to successfully graduate from school.
Center 2 where youth engage in helping each other with homework at Los Tías after school program where tutoring is provided from volunteers from World Unite. Center 2 reaches around 40 youth aged 14-18 years. Besides extra classes for school, this center offers vocational training for carpentry, tailoring, working with leather, and beauty (hair styling and make-up). The aim is to achieve successful vocational training for the youth.
High school student, Tania Mariela, holding a periodical table while working on her chemistry homework at Las Tías, León, Nicaragua.
León is not only an iconic global city, but it is Nicaragua's political and intellectual center. It is also home of the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, which was founded in 1813, making it the second oldest university in Central America. León is also an important industrial, agricultural, and commercial center for Nicaragua. The city has been home to many of Nicaragua's most noteworthy poets including Ruben Dario, Alfonso Cortes, and Salomon de la Selva. Having a reputation as the intellectual city in Nicaragua, this is an excellent place to experience social entrepreneurship in an emerging market, and specifically in an Central American context.
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