Big Steps Forward for Guatemala Return and Reintegration Project
- Friday, July 29, 2011 |
- Written by Administrator
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On a recent trip to Guatemala, KIND signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Guatemalan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a similar agreement with the Attorney General's office. The MOUs formalize both agencies' collaboration with KIND and their support of KIND's Guatemalan Child Return and Reintegration Project (GCRRP) to assist Guatemalan children who are returning to Guatemala from the United States.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs oversees the work of the eleven Guatemalan consulates in the United States, which play a vital role in the coordination of the return of unaccompanied minors. The Attorney General's office is responsible for determining whether the child has an appropriate caregiver in the family, and will otherwise identify alternative options such as extended family members or an NGO shelter in which the child can live. KIND has worked closely with the Attorney General's office to successfully reunify all GCRRP participants with their family.
KIND also met with each of our five Guatemalan nongovernmental organization partners to discuss the their provision of services under the project. KIND's partners provide a variety of services to returned youth that include help with the child's arrival at the airport, family reunification support, education, and employment assistance.
During the trip, KIND also visited five project participants who have successfully returned to Guatemala. All five have received assistance from KIND's local partners since their arrival and are doing well. They have been living with their parents and are getting used to the daily routines in each of their homes.
KIND, the young people, and their families discussed the adjustment to their home and community. They also talked about meeting the needs that had been identified for them such as planning for school enrollment in January, enrolling in technical training, and finding employment.
During one of the visits, a partner NGO enrolled two boys in computer classes at a local youth center. The boys first became acquainted with computers during their time in the United States, where they had received computer training; upon their return both expressed interest in continuing the training. The class they are enrolled in provides a certificate at the completion of each level, which helps increase employment opportunities.KIND was warmly welcomed by all the children's families, most of who live in small rural communities in the highlands of northern Guatemala, where they have small farms.
Observing a return
KIND was also present when two girls, ages 15 and 17, who were in custody together in a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shelter, arrived from the United States. NGO partner staff had informed families of the children's arrival times the previous day and met the families at the airport. Families often live far from Guatemala City; it can take a day or two before they are able to reach the capital and reunite with their child.
NGO partner staff waited with the families until the children arrived in the late evening, at which point they accompanied the families to the government office where the families filled out paperwork to regain custody of their child. After the required documents were processed, partner NGO staff provided their contact information to the children and their families and explained that they would contact them within two weeks to discuss the child's care plan - the first step towards successful reintegration.
Click here to read more about GCRRP and our partners.
