Emotional Recovery for Children and Youth

To contribute to the mental health and well-being of children, adolescents, and their caregivers by strengthening life skills and emotional management practices as key strategies for preventing gender-based violence and fostering respectful relationships within their communities.

Directly involved are 120 people, composed as follows: 20 children (10 girls and 10 boys) and 30 adolescents (15 females and 15 males) who have been part of previous processes; 50 emotional role models: mothers, grandmothers, close relatives, etc. (most are housewives with large families, some illiterate and with low levels of education, who live in situations of violence and have limited financial resources); 10 community leaders; 10 health workers (leaders in their communities who work with the Ministry of Health). Indirectly involved are the residents of district Los Poetas in León: 600 people, including close relatives of the directly involved groups.

As witnessed globally, also Nicaragua faces a mounting mental health crisis of children and adolescents. Depression and anxiety are among the leading causes of illness, often exacerbated by family environments marked by violence, abuse, and economic stress. Regional data from Latin America and the Caribbean reflect this urgency, where these disorders account for nearly half of all mental health issues among adolescents aged 10 to 19. Children’s well-being depends heavily on family and community support—resources currently weakened by social pressures and migration. The resulting family separations often leave children in the care of relatives, while rising adolescent pregnancy rates remain closely linked to sexual violence and the normalization of relationships between minors and adult men. In Leon’s Los Poetas neighborhood, many young people grow up in high-risk environments with limited spaces to process trauma. Gender-based violence has reached alarming levels, with femicides frequently committed by partners or relatives, driven by deeply rooted machismo and economic dependence. The proposed project aims to address these structural challenges

• Empowering Children and Adolescents through Life Skills: The foundation of the project is the development of essential life skills. We work with children and adolescents to strengthen their emotional intelligence, focusing on resilience, self-care, and assertive communication. By using standardized assessment tools, we monitor each participant’s progress, ensuring they gain the practical tools needed to resolve conflicts peacefully and navigate high-risk environments with confidence.
• Promoting Healthy Family Dynamics: We recognize that sustainable change begins at home. The project provides specialised support for parents and caregivers through emotional recovery sessions and dedicated self-care activities. These initiatives are designed to help adults manage personal stress and adopt positive parenting practices. By facilitating family integration activities, we help rebuild healthy bonds and foster a domestic environment based on mutual respect and affective communication.
• Building Community Protection Networks: To ensure a lasting safety net, we invest in the capacity building of local stakeholders. Community leaders and health volunteers undergo intensive training on child protection, institutional policies, and violence prevention strategies. This equips them to act as effective first responders and advocates within their neighbourhoods. This grassroots empowerment is supported by a strategic social communication campaign that promotes emotional well-being and challenges the normalization of violence at a systemic level.
• Continuous Support and Follow-up: Quality assurance is maintained through a rigorous follow-up system. Regular home and community visits allow our team to provide personalised guidance and ensure that the skills learned in our sessions are successfully integrated into daily life. This consistent presence strengthens the connection between families and local protection networks, ensuring no child faces their challenges alone.