​Asociacion Las Tias

Asociación Las Tías is a non-profit organization that provides a safe space for at-risk youth in two day-care centers. In Nicaragua, children only attend school in the morning or afternoon. Consequently, many children spend a large part of their day on the streets. Without supervision or structure, children are at risk of joining gangs or developing addictions to glue, Las Tías offers at-risk kids a safe, adult-supervised space to study and play. In addition to offering psychological support for kids who have lived on the streets, the organization provides nutritious lunches, homework help, and other activities such as sports, arts, and traditional dance. 

Since the organization’s founding in 1989, Las Tías has developed two separate programs. Las Tías Pequeñas cares for younger children, whilst Las Tías Grandes provides services for older children. 

Las Tías Pequeñas

Las Tías Pequeñas seeks to prevent 6-14 year old children from working in the street and encourages them to attend school. The Tías and volunteers help the children with their homework, give extra lessons and provide psychological support. Since the program began in 1989, there has been a drastic increase in school attendance and performance, as well as a reduction in the amount of hours that the children work every day on average. 

Las Tías Grandes

Las Tías Grandes works with 30 teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18. Many of the teenagers come from violent homes or have experienced life on the streets. The center offers workshops in carpentry, hairdressing, dress-making, and sewing. By providing the teenagers with the vocational skills necessary to obtain employment, the organization paves the way for its participants to stay off the streets indefinitely.  The success of this program has helped many teenagers to overcome drug abuse, improved family relations and reduced domestic violence.

How QT helps

Quetzaltrekkers gives a monthly donation to Las Tías which funds food for daily lunches, school supplies, transport, scholarships for several children in the program, and the salaries of vocational teachers at Las Tías Grandes. QT volunteers also visit the project each week to play sports with the kids and assist with homework. ​We directly help 100 kids by providing a sanctuary for them to play and learn.