Venezuela: Youth brigades as violence prevention

The Youth Brigade Project was conceived with the goal of educating people to become better citizens, while also guaranteeing that future generations are more fully aware of security issues and active in their communities. The project instills values pertaining to citizenship and convivência (that translates roughly as getting along) among school age boys, girls and teens, while at the same time creating human capital that is committed to society and which may later enter the ranks of the police force.

 “We have been able to reduce the frequency of disturbances and of violent acts in educational settings by making the most of children’s free time and by strengthening values among children,” said Maria del Carmen Llanos, Director of Community Affairs of the Chacao Municipal Police, located in Caracas, where the program has been implemented over the past five years.

 “There were visible results in less than six months, an improvement among school children with respect to violence and conduct, both inside and outside school,” said Llanos. From 2003 to 2007, the program achieved its goal of graduating 700 youths in six classes, (photo) such that, according to official data, disturbances have dropped by 99%.

Long term plans

Open to all boys and girls in the region, (state and nationally), between ages 7 and 14, its activities are carried out in the school system, in sports centers and parks. The project provides children with 96 extra-curricular hours of education in rules, ethics, emotional development, self-esteem, time management skills, crisis management, first aid and community development.

Practical and theoretical workshops are dedicated to instilling core values, cross-cutting all activities. “Teachers help reinforce discipline and respect, and help give the brigade cohesion and homogeneity. A firm and yet tolerant hierarchical system allows brigade members to apprehend models of order and respect,” said Llanos.

On concluding the initial training program, both aspiring and brigade members enter into a continuous refresher process that includes them in social activities carried out by the Municipal Police’s Coordination of Community Affairs.

The process allows brigade members to ascend in rank until he or she comes of age. If they desire to do so, they may enter the Municipal Police Academy, enter university or the workforce with the vouched by the institution with their experience at the brigades on their c.v.s,“ said Llanos.

The boys and girls that take part in the brigades take on the role of facilitators, squad commanders and helpers. The Coordinatorship of Community Affaires provides the guidance and reinforces the study programs, both internally and with respect to exchanges with municipal institutions.

By offering recreational and educational activities that allow for the efficient use of free time, it is possible to prevent violent occurrences inside schools, while at the same time instilling values in youths that contribute to building a society that is not only safer, but also more human,” said Llanos.

Read Further:

Venezuela: A single police force to combat violence

Translated by Lis Horta Moriconi