INNFA (National Institute for Children and Families)
INNFA is Ecuador’s largest NGO serving children and families. It fills an interesting space between the government and civil society, because it receives much of its money from the state, and its director is traditionally the first lady. As such, it has a great influence on public policy and it has the money to do community work all around the country.
INNFA began its program for working children in 1990. When it began, the initiative struggled to improve working conditions and school attendance, but in 1997 it firmly adopted UNICEF’s policy of ending child labor. Today, it has integrated projects to discourage child labor and to help children return to school.
Ecuador’s rate of child labor is the highest in Latin America, according to the INNFA, so preventing children from working will clearly be a struggle. For INNFA, this work begins in schools. In many shantytowns, INNFA employs an educator, a “community promoter,” a volunteer teacher, and many other volunteers. Volunteers and educators prepare children for school, tutor h/er, and help h/er with homework. The “promoter” teaches the community about the value of education and the dangers of child labor. The teacher works with other teachers in the school to explain the special needs of poor and working children, thus reducing the drop out rate.
In every neighborhood where INNFA works, they sponsor a “Family Board” that helps INNFA better serve the community. The Board also does outreach for the program, telling INNFA educators about families that may need services: health, birth control, job training, etc.
INNFA gives scholarships to children who agree to attend school and not to work. Though the scholarship is only $50 a year, this money can be decisive for a poor family. INNFA trains families to use this money as capital to start or expand a small business. In this way, families can increase their income, and children need not work. If a group of mothers or families wishes to create a small business, INNFA is often able to loan them $500, then to advise them on management and marketing.
INNFA’s large scale work includes teaching businesses and employers about child labor. For example, over the last several years the INNFA came to an agreement with banana plantations to end child labor there. This agreement depended on international pressure, particularly the threat of an EU boycott.
INNFA lobbies extensively in Congress and in the executive branch. It has helped to reform the law on working age and was part of the coalition that transformed the Children’s Code. Even so, INNFA is quite aware that law alone is never enough, so it assists the ministries and the police to enforce the law.
Instituto del Niño y La Familia
Venezuela 659, piso 4
Quito, Ecuador
Tel 593 (2) 510574
contactos: Andrés Dueñas, aduenas@innfa.org
Marta Naranjo, mnaranjo@innfa.org
www.innfa.org
