Commitment to the right to education

In Peru, it is estimated that more than 30 percent of the population is poor, and more than three million live in extreme poverty. In some parts of the country the situation is even worse, such as in Piura in the north-west of the country, where almost five percent of people live at the full subsistence level. For 25 years, the aid group CANAT has been supporting those who suffer the most from difficult life situations: children and young people.

“In Piura the sun shines, above the sea and in the hearts of the people,” said Verena Engert. She worked as a Jesuit volunteer at CANAT in 2018 and 2023 and she also knows the dark side of a very poor region that is repeatedly hit by natural disasters. More recently from devastating torrential rains in April 2023: “People had to watch as their homes were destroyed and dengue fever broke out. “

Protected areas

CANAT, the “Centro de Apoyo a Niños y Adolescentes Trabajadores”, is an aid project for working children and young people. What started as a small project has become a comprehensive educational option and offers children and young people many opportunities to realize their dreams of graduating from school, training or studying. “With CANAT they found sheltered places for education and recreation as well as psychological support in their difficult life situations, characterized by poverty, violence or illness,” Verena reported.

Over the years, the project, with the support of Jesuit groups, has become larger and more professional and is being structurally reset in 2023. Around 20 teachers and specialized psychologists work in the CANAT team : “Some received support from CANAT themselves as young people,” reported Verena. In addition to working with the children, they are always in contact with families and various government institutions. CANAT is currently helping around 300 young people to find new opportunities. The CANAT teams structure their work locally to meet the children where they are: in the urban area, on the outskirts and in rural areas.

Many families live in a precarious situation, especially in the surrounding area. The journey to school is very long for most children and the fare for a moto taxi is not in the family budget, which is why it is not possible to go to classes at all or only irregularly . School fees, buying books and the compulsory school uniform are also insurmountable obstacles. There is hardly any help from the government. The families’ livelihood depends on the income from their own small farm. Those who lost their land often work under exploitative conditions for agricultural export companies.

Also expectant young mothers

Many people seek salvation in the city – where they often come from bad to worse: “Because of poor education, they cannot find work and sell drinks, sandwiches, sweets or newspapers on the street,” reports Verena. It is almost impossible to feed a family, which forces children and young people to work as well.

In addition to the regional division of labor with their special characteristics, CANAT teams have made a special difference in their programs for different age groups. There is also a special focus on young mothers: from 2023, ten young women between 14 and 19 have been in this program, most of them single parents and without a school-leaving certificate or training. The aim of the steps is to strengthen her role as a mother and build a secure future. Thanks to CANAT, hundreds of disadvantaged children and young people have been able to get the basics for a better life in recent years.

This article is from the Fall 2024 issue of the magazine Jesuitall over the world. We thank you for your permission to take over!