Art, Participation and Adolescent Leadership

To contribute to the well-being and comprehensive development of boys, girls, and adolescents of Monte Sinaí through the implementation of art, psychosocial support, and active participation programs that strengthen their socio-emotional skills, enhance their capacities and resilience, and favor the development of their life projects.

Specific Objectives:

• Develop leadership, organization, and participation capacities of adolescents through formative processes, participation spaces, and technical support.
• Foster creative and emotional expression of girls, boys, and adolescents through participatory art workshops (theater, painting, and music) that comprehensively promote mental health.
• Raise awareness among parents and caregivers about their role in violence prevention and the importance of care through intergenerational meetings, dialogue sessions, and reflection spaces linked to art and well-being.

Monte Sinaí, located in Guayaquil canton, Guayas province, faces a situation of structural poverty that severely limits access of boys, girls, and adolescents to fundamental rights such as health, education, adequate nutrition, and safe environments for development. Many families live in overcrowded conditions with informal employment and unstable income, which directly impacts the emotional well-being and mental health of young people.

Additionally, social exclusion creates an environment where violence, child labor, gender inequality, and school dropout are frequent. Adolescents, in particular, face scarce opportunities to build their life projects, which exposes them to risks such as early pregnancy, substance use, forced recruitment by criminal gangs, or involvement with violence dynamics. The lack of support networks and effective public policies deepens the vulnerability of this population, perpetuating intergenerational cycles of poverty and exclusion.

1. Strengthening the Youth Club "Mesa Nuestras Voces"

• Training in participatory leadership, emotional management, violence prevention, and conflict resolution.
• Design and implementation of an advocacy plan with participation of government actors, civil society organizations, and community representatives.
• Organization of a participatory event for public presentation of proposals developed by the Mesa.
• Hosting of reflection spaces and camping activities directed at adolescents.

2. Art, Development, and Health for Adolescents

• Participatory design of artistic methodologies contextualized to local reality.
• Implementation of weekly workshops in various artistic expressions: music, painting, dance, and theater.
• Implementation of psycho-emotional capsules integrated into workshops, focused on strengthening self-esteem, emotional self-regulation, peaceful conflict resolution, and building positive bonds.
• Organization of monthly youth meetings as spaces for exchange and group cohesion.

3. Intergenerational, Family, and Community Awareness

• Hosting meetings with parents and caregivers to encourage collective reflection to improve communication and emotional support in contexts of vulnerability.

Boys, girls, and adolescents of Monte Sinaí, Guayaquil.

University of the Arts

DYA / MANE