Argentina
The program in Argentina began at the end of 2000, with the aim of focusing attention on child workers, or children at imminent risk of joining the workforce.
Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that belong to Proniño are the executors of the program. Currently 30 NGOs, selected through national and public tender processes, and which work in 11 provinces. For 2008, Argentina's target is to reach 9,000 beneficiaries.
The program deals with the problem of child labour through the integrated work of 4 players: Children, their family, schools and the community.
Actions involving CHILDRN are focused on the areas of education, health and the use of free time.
Education: Daily educational assistance, outside school hours, to complement school work. Social organisations will help carry out school support actions on planned topics, interventions in terms of educational psychology, psychological support, the handout of school materials, among others.
Health: coordinated and joint work is carried out with health centres and regional hospitals, carrying out multiple actions such as height and weight checks, nutritional advice, talks on health education, etc.
Use of free time: Free time activities are held outside school time to ensure that children at work have access to the recreational areas suited to their young age. This will involve recreational trips, painting workshops, music, theatre and sporting activities. etc.
In terms of the FAMILIES of children covered by Proniño, work will be divided into improving means of economic income (Protrabajo initiative), family guidance and the transformation of cultural patterns.
Protrabajo was founded in 2001, and is responsible for actions aimed at strengthening the capacities and skills of adults -the parents, siblings or tutors of children who are beneficiaries of the program- with the aim of improving family income and thus making it possible to replace the income contributed by working children.
In terms of family guidance, talks are organised with the cooperation and assistance of bodies which specialise in domestic violence, health education and family actions based around a school or community college which is part of the Proniño program, and in many more critical cases social workers will visit the home for more personal advice.
The transformation of cultural patterns justifying child labour - workshops aimed at families, with the goal of raising awareness of the rights of children: the right to play, the right to an identity and the right to quality education, amongst others. Workshops are also held to deal with issues related to addiction, domestic violence, responsible procreation etc. that affect these communities.
The work carried out with schools, as well as providing the necessary educational materials, is focused mainly on training teachers in all issues relating to the problem of child labour.
With the community, Proniño carries out activities in two areas: the cooperation of networks (with different organisations, ministries, companies, with the aim of disseminating and strengthening telematic issues beyond the scope of the program), and raising awareness about the issue of child labour.
RELATIONS WITH SPECIALIST BODIES
Proniño can also boast, in Argentina, the support and advice of bodies specialising in the issue of child labour, domestic and/or international, such as CONAETI, OIM, OIT, UNESCO and UNICEF.