Jakaira, a centre for teenage parents

In Argentina, in the year 2000, the percentage of babies born to mothers under 20 years of age was 15.2%. As a consequence of the deep crisis that this country is experiencing, the number of early pregnancies amongst youngsters under 15 is increasing.
In October 2003 Children Action, in collaboration with Fundación Kaleidos (an Argentinian not-for-profit organisation), decided to set up a day centre in Buenos Aires called Jakaira, in order to provide care and assistance to very young parents, from medium-low to low social and economic classes.

Establishing a special relationship between mother and baby

The centre assists young women in their role as mothers and helps them to reintegrate both socially and professionally. The team which runs Jakaira works to heighten each mother's awareness of the needs of her child and improve their relationship with each other. Jakaira offers to each mother a personalized support (medical, psychological and legal support, school reintegration, searching for employment and housing, etc).

As stipulated by article 9 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the main goal is to defend children’s right not to be separated from their parents against their will, except when such separation is necessary for the best interest of the chid. (art. 9 Convention on the Rights of the child)

Jakaira also contributes to the establishment of a social network to approach, in an integral way, all the different problems and to optimise the community's existing resources.

Results

Cost

Annual budget: approx. CHF 120'000 (75 000 €)

Team

Supervision:

Prof François Ansermet, Head of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University Hospital, Geneva 
Sandra Serpa Rusconi, Geneva
Marta Martinez, Argentina

Project leaders:
Ricardo Gorodisch, psychiatrist and President of Kaleidos
Sandra Nofal, psychiatrist and member of Kaleidos