Supporting Parents in Latin America

In Latin American, Perkins supports lasting changes in the education of children in need by engaging groups across communities in children's lives. We emphasize support for parents and collaboration with national ministries. 

Parent Organizing

Prior to Perkins work in Latin America, there were no formal organizations supporting parents. Perkins has provided parent training activities, with a focus on leadership development and networking, in all the countries in which it works in Latin America. These efforts have led to the development of independent parent organizations in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, and Venezuela, and informal networks in Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, and Peru.  

A deafblind toddler finger paints with his parents, Venezuela

In Latin America, parent groups are at the forefront of developing networks across service providers to meet the needs of their children. Argentinean parents have led discussions on building partnerships at national conferences. More than 260 parents and professionals presented a proposal to the Pan American Health Organization for the development of a symposium on Rubella Syndrome. Rubella is a significant source of deafblindness in Latin America. When contracted by mothers during pregnancy, it often results in sensory disabilities to the developing fetus. As a result, the child may suffer from damage to their ears, eyes, heart, and nervous system. 

Perkins continues to expand the scope of support for parent groups to rural areas and underserved communities. In Guatemala, we broadened parent support and training to Mayan and other indigenous communities. As parent networks strengthen regionally, we anticipate seeing societal changes in education systems and policies for children who are deafblind or blind with additional impairments. 

Learn more about our other programs in Latin America