Peruvian street boys work through micro-enterprise programs
Lima’s street boys learn to work:
Pablo Lavado is director of Centro Girasoles (Sunflower Center) for street boys in Lima, Peru. He shares that since the 1950s whenever Scripture Union Peru initiates a new program their policy is to make it self-sustainable through some form of income-generation project. A variety of such micro-enterprises has been used; sometimes totally unrelated to the ministry activity.
For example they have a car park on the first floor of their center for street children in Lima, a bakery and a building with offices and storefronts that are rented out. There is also a campsite whose facilities are rented to outside groups. A taxi company is now planned. The income from this would sustain a house for the younger children in their program. An added benefit of these programs is that they actively involve the street kids. For example, the boys of Girasoles wash the vehicles parked in the car park, thereby earning a small extra income.
Scripture Union’s policy has proven successful. Today the majority of the income for their programs comes from these micro-enterprises and only a minimum percentage is made up by donations. The most lucrative programs are the car park, the campsite and the office/storefront rental. The viability of these plans means each ministry program can be planned into the future without fear of unexpected closure. The security this gives the program is important because consistency is crucial for the full rehabilitation of street boys. It is disastrous when they are left mid-way through the process."
