Violence is one of the main reasons why children and adolescents lose parental care in Peru. And unfortunately many countries in Latin America.
In 2014, more than 150,000 cases of family violence were reported in Peru. San Juan de Lurigancho, a district of the Province of Lima, is among the districts with the highest rates of violence. To respond to this reality, SOS Children’s Villages Peru developed the “Grow without violence” project. Between January 2014 and June 2015, this pilot project in San Juan de Lurigancho focused on promoting active fatherhood and gender equality.
It drew on the MenCare methodology, which introduces 10 themes:
- Be Involved from the Start
- Share the Care Work
- Be Proud & Show It
- Provide Health Care
- Just Play
- Educate
- Be Brave: Show Affection
- Raise without Violence
- Teach Equality & Respect
- Support the Mother
As a result, 1000 parents participating in the program were equipped with tools and technique on how to motivate fathers to take active roles in parenting. They learned why it is important for a child and the peace in the family. Municipalities, communities and civil society were made aware of the co-responsibility in the promotion of a non-violent culture.
And most importantly this project established a model of intervention for prevention and reaction towards violence, which can be replicated in other districts in Peru and Latin America.