Award for the Defence of Children's Rights
Sylvia Reyes - Fundación JUCONI, Ecuador
“At some point the parents will have the insight that what
they are doing to their children is what was done to them.
That’s when we can start talking about how to repair the damage.
That’s when things really start to move.”
Sylvia Reyes, an educational psychologist, left Britain in 1994 to help Fundación JUCONI set up a branch in the slums of Ecuador’s Port Guayaquil. The aim was to address the large numbers of children who are abused and neglected by their families, and who have dropped out of education and turned to the street.
JUCONI, which is short for Junto Con Los Ninos, means
‘together with the children.’A short while after beginning work in Guayaquil, Sylvia realised that children weren’t turning to the streets simply because of poverty, but because violence, abuse and neglect were being passed from one family generation to the next.
Children already experiencing abuse and neglect within the family, were suffering still more damage when they took to the streets to exist amid exploitation, crime, and drugs.
As a result, Sylvia has developed a strong methodology for working with these impoverished and fragile families. This sees the team at Fundación JUCONI working closely with all family members, taking time to earn their trust so that they can help everyone understand the root of the problems.
The team has become expert in supporting parents to understand the needs and rights of their children, and helping them build a more caring and respectful home environment. JUCONI’s services also support children on the streets to improve their emotional and social skills, build their self-confidence, and tackle the gaps in their education.
Since 1994, Fundación JUCONI has supported over 1200 children and families in Guayaquil to break the cycle of abuse and neglect. In addition, 92% of children participating in JUCONI’s programme have successfully returned to formal education.
Sylvia’s understanding of how the home environment plays a crucial role in children’s wellbeing, and her model for working with entire families, has inspired other organisations from Brazil to Afghanistan. She is a strong believer in addressing the causes of problems, not just the symptoms.
Find out more at Fundación JUCONI's website (Spanish and English versions)