Interview with Maritza from the Iniciativa Colibrí

Maritza is a psychologist who supports our partner organisation, Iniciativa Colibrí, with great dedication. At the Colibrí centre, the organisation provides a space for socially disadvantaged children and young people to relax through theatre, express themselves freely, support each other and explore their feelings (see the latest photo report). Maritza regularly visits the centre to provide advice and support to children and young people in difficult situations. In the interview, she told us in detail about her work.

Interview with Maritza from the Iniciativa Colibrí

Maritza is a psychologist who supports our partner organisation, Iniciativa Colibrí, with great dedication. At the Colibrí centre, the organisation provides a space for socially disadvantaged children and young people to relax through theatre, express themselves freely, support each other and explore their feelings (see the latest photo report). Maritza regularly visits the centre to provide advice and support to children and young people in difficult situations. In the interview, she told us in detail about her work.

EcoSolidar: How long have you been involved with Iniciativa Colibrí?
Maritza: I have been with Iniciativa Colibrí for several years, although time feels very different here. Soon after joining, I realised that this was more than just another experience in my life; it was a personal and professional commitment. I originally came with the intention of sharing my knowledge of psychology. However, I soon realised that Colibrí was also changing me. Every smile, every story and every shared success of the children and young people reminds me that I am in the right place.

EcoSolidar: What is your role in the project, and what exactly do you do?
Maritza: My role is very diverse because, at Colibrí, we serve the community. I run personal development and psychological growth workshops for children and young people. In these workshops, we learn how to manage our emotions, boost our self-esteem and resilience, live healthily, respect ourselves, others and the environment, and set goals for the present and the future.
We organise workshops for women on topics ranging from building support networks and self-confidence to leadership skills, and practical matters such as organising household finances and starting small businesses, as well as more unusual professions such as mechanics.
We create spaces where everyone can discover their inner strength, which is often previously unnoticed. Most importantly, I don’t do this alone. We always talk about “we” because we believe that change happens when we see ourselves as part of something greater.

EcoSolidar: What is the most important thing about this project for the children and young people taking part?
Maritza: The most important thing is that they find a safe place here. We pay close attention to implementing child protection guidelines and promoting respectful interaction. Colibrí is a space where children and young people can express themselves freely, feel heard, and learn to listen with tolerance and empathy.
Many of them come to us with stories of bullying, learning difficulties, language barriers, grief, insecurity, and family problems. Here, they realise that they don’t have to pretend to be someone else. I remember a teenager who hardly spoke at first but later dared to say that he wanted to become a teacher. This showed us that Colibrí goes far beyond the workshops to build confidence and show young people that dreams can become reality.

EcoSolidar: What do you enjoy most about your work?
Maritza: I enjoy being a witness to these “small-big” changes the most. Seeing a shy girl suddenly raise her voice, hearing a woman proudly tell us that she has opened her own grocery store, or witnessing a young man who once doubted himself encourage others is the greatest reward for me.
Seeing how people discover that they can make a difference, that their voice counts, and that their efforts are worthwhile inspires me. What I appreciate about Colibrí is that inclusion and mutual respect are practised here. Many former participants, now young adults, continue to support the new generations. Neighbours also help by planting the grounds, cleaning the surroundings, and getting involved in other ways.
I am particularly touched by the fact that young people and adults from the community who are confronted with social risks such as drugs, alcohol or exclusion always greet Colibrí warmly. This shows me that they feel recognised as people with rights here.

EcoSolidar: What are your hopes for the future?
Maritza: I dream that Colibrí will continue to grow and reach even more neighbourhoods, because I know how transformative this work can be. I hope that more children and women will have access to spaces like this one, which restore their self-confidence, teach them new skills and give them hope.

My greatest wish is that one day someone will say: “I found support at Colibrí — it’s where I discovered that I’m stronger than I thought.”

Iniciativa Colibrí: The big impact of this small project

Iniciativa Colibrí, based in Nicaragua, supports disadvantaged children and young people in the Estelí district. The project’s manager, María Jesús, grew up in this neighbourhood and still lives there today. The Colibrí centre provides a space where children and young people can relax through theatre, express themselves freely, support each other and recognise their feelings.

Iniciativa Colibrí: The big impact of this small project

Iniciativa Colibrí, based in Nicaragua, supports disadvantaged children and young people in the Estelí district. The project’s manager, María Jesús, grew up in this neighbourhood and still lives there today. The Colibrí centre provides a space where children and young people can relax through theatre, express themselves freely, support each other and recognise their feelings.

There are three theatre groups structured according to age and ability, as well as a reading group for the youngest children. Participants are responsible for maintaining the neighbourhood centre and its garden. A psychologist is also regularly present at the centre to provide guidance and support to children and young people facing challenges.

Currently, 35 children and young people are actively involved in the various theatre and reading groups. Others get involved occasionally, and a women’s group meets regularly at the centre. Despite its small size — the annual project costs amount to around CHF 10 000 — Iniciativa Colibrí has a significant and lasting impact on the neighbourhood. The centre provides a reliable presence for residents and participants, remaining open regardless of personal circumstances or difficult and unpredictable political times. The neighbourhood centre has a huge impact on the lives of its participants, as well as their families and friends. Former long-term participants report that their years of experience on the project strengthened them personally. They became part of a community that actively practises democracy, and they were able to experiment and develop their own skills. They now have the confidence to appear in front of an audience, be authentic, and stand by their opinions

Photo report from the project in Nicaragua

María Jesús, the project manager and founder of the project, knows the participating children and young people, as well as their families, very well. She often meets them on the way to the neighbourhood centre, where she works.

The neighbourhood’s residents know and appreciate “Profe Mary”, as she is affectionately known, very much.

Thirteen years ago, María Jesús founded the project together with her niece. Since then, she has dedicated herself entirely to this work. She has supported many participants throughout the years. This has created a strong bond between them and the centre.

When the children and young people arrive at the neighbourhood centre in the afternoon, they first clean the entire facility. There are different tasks to be completed at each meeting. Somebody has to water the garden flowers, mop the floors, unlock the toilets and prepare the activities. Everyone helps out, and the older participants take on leadership roles in the various groups.

At Colibrí, everyone is welcome and has a place. The focus is on joint activities and interaction. Every theatre or reading group begins with a session where the children and young people can exchange ideas, talk about things that have made them happy or sad, and simply play together and have fun.

The project work with children and young people focuses on personal development and strengthening the personality.

Child psychologist Maritza regularly runs sessions on the topic of “My Life Journey”. These sessions help children and young people to recognise and express their feelings and emotions, and to develop personally and strengthen their self-confidence.

The reading group focuses on reading together, strengthening reading skills and discovering literature. Members immerse themselves in stories and write their own.

The community centre offers three theatre groups tailored to different age groups and levels of experience. Some of the oldest group’s participants take on the role of co-leaders for the younger groups. Here, they practise various techniques and improvisation, and perform in a big play once a year.

Iniciativa Colibrí regularly takes part in theatre festivals and workshops, in which children and young people perform plays and develop new skills. In this photo, a Colibrí group travelled to El Salvador.

Iniciativa Colibrí organises an annual neighbourhood festival to involve local residents in its activities. The festival features numerous stalls selling a variety of homemade items and food. The proceeds go towards funding the project.

Fourteen-year-old Alba and sixteen-year-old Enmanuel both want to become actors. They have performed in theatre groups before, but they felt too pressured or restrained there.

Both of them feel very comfortable at Colibrí and can develop at their own pace. They like the fact that the group is at the heart of everything and that everyone is on the same page.

More equal opportunities for indigenous people in Peru

Pukllasunchis works with indigenous schoolchildren and teachers at rural schools in the Cusco region. The children tell stories about their everyday lives and traditions, which are recorded and broadcast as radio programmes. These radio programmes reach many listeners in the region, for example at the market in Cusco. The teachers themselves undergo further training at Pukllasunchis in bilingual and intercultural teaching.

FENAMAD supports indigenous young people from the Amazon region in secondary school and with further studies in the city by providing accommodation, educational and psychological support as well as strengthening their self-confidence and personal skills.

More equal opportunities for indigenous people in Peru

The indigenous population in Peru continues to be severely disadvantaged in terms of access to education and in the education system itself. Our two partner organisations in Peru (Pukllasunchis in Cusco and FENAMAD in Puerto Maldonado) are committed to providing indigenous children and young people with better opportunities for their future. This involves providing concrete support for individual educational pathways as well as improving intercultural teaching.

Pukllasunchis works with indigenous schoolchildren and teachers at rural schools in the Cusco region. The children tell stories about their everyday lives and traditions, which are recorded and broadcast as radio programmes. These radio programmes reach many listeners in the region, for example at the market in Cusco. The teachers themselves undergo further training at Pukllasunchis in bilingual and intercultural teaching.

Photo report from projects in Peru

At school, the children work together to create the stories for the radio programmes. They tell legends and describe customs and everyday life from their lives in Quechua. For the recording of the radio programmes, they perform these stories as plays. The finished programmes are broadcast and are very popular. Nerio Cruz Mamani: “I like the way my voice sounds on the radio. My mum was very proud when she heard me. Thanks to the radio recordings, I’ve become braver and dare to speak out elsewhere”.

The teachers are proud of their students and how they create the radio programmes. The project strengthens them as a group, gives their indigenous origin a positive meaning and makes them participate more attentively in class and get involved. The classes also listen to stories from other communities together and talk about them. The radio programmes as well as other creative and playful activities are effective methods in bilingual intercultural teaching.

Teachers and Pukllasunchis staff discuss the project work. The project would not work without the commitment and conviction of the teachers. They are the ones who implement and promote bilingual and intercultural teaching. Miluska Hurtado de Mendoza (left): “It’s wonderful when children discover talents and when they realise that their way of life and their everyday lives have a place in school. They gain important experiences and learn skills for their future. It’s very satisfying to accompany them in this process and to learn a lot myself”.

Secondary school students from the indigenous communities in the Madre de Dios region have to go to the city of Puerto Maldonado for further studies. Interested young people can find out about the various training opportunities at the careers fair. Most of them have made an arduous journey of several days. If they decide to study, they have to move away from home and find their way around the city. Thanks to the support of FENAMAD, the move is easier for the young people and their parents.

Indigenous young people from various villages and ethnic groups live and work at Casa Miraflores during their studies. They organise their everyday lives together and are supported by specialists in psychological matters as well as with additional lessons and creative workshops. The young people come to terms with their indigenous identity and their origins and how they would like to shape their future.

Rogelio Rodriguez trained as a teacher for bilingual education in Puerto Maldonado and lived in Casa Miraflores during this time. After completing his studies, he returned to his home village of Santa Teresita, where he teaches Spanish and Yine, his mother tongue, to children from Year 3 to Year 6 at primary school.