Art for Good Living

Alamikangba and Prinzapolka, located in the Northern Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua, are the home of two ethnic groups: Miskitu and Mestizos, Miskitu being the majority. The communities of this municipality have limited or no basic services, aggravating the conditions of impoverishment. According the National Institute of Statistics, 57.80% of the people living in this area are children and adolescents.

The municipality is considered the most vulnerable in the region as each year it is threatened by floods, storms and hurricanes. In 2016, the Autonomous Regions of the North and South Caribbean were declared on red alert when they were affected by a tropical storm that caused the greatest flood of their rivers in the last 10 years .

In Prinzapolka, about 17,000 people were affected by floodwaters, while in Alamikamba some 300 houses were flooded and a large part of the population evacuated to family homes located in high areas. One of the greatest concern of the population was the losses they had on their crops and yard animals. Children and adolescents were also highly affected in their education, as some 3,800 people, including children and adults, evacuated to shelters.

There are also detrimental cultural practices used in the name of tradition, such as Tala Mana or payment by blood, with which parents of raped children demand a cash or species payment to the violator, thus naturalizing rape. This project raises awareness on the fact that there are cultural and traditional practices detrimental to people, especially for children and adolescents.

There is weak participation and social integration of adolescents and youth. The dispersion of the population and the lack of basic services, especially related to education, have been factors that significantly affect the behavior of adolescents in this municipality.

To respond to this reality, the project supports Tininiska, a local network of teens, that develops awareness raising actions to promote non-violent ways of relating between men and women, contributing to create a new imaginary that leads to a change in behavior. The project actions are implemented with adolescents from the local Institute of Secondary School, whom are also members of Tininiska.

The project promotes the use of artistic and cultural methodologies combining dance, theater and music techniques with human rights skills with a focus on gender, violence prevention, prevention of teenage pregnancies, sexual abuse and the importance of adopting new masculinities. It is expected that the Network will grow in number, integrating other teens interested in the different activities promoted by the project. In addition, sports leagues will be formed thus promoting spaces of non-violent recreation and participation.

This initiative is developed by CEIBO, an artists cooperative that uses art to promote social change.