Casa Alianza
Encyclopedia
Casa Alianza is an international not for profit organisation and the Latin America
n branch of Covenant House
. It is a charity
and NGO
whose aims are the rehabilitation and the defence of street child
ren. It was first set up in Guatemala
in 1981, then in both Honduras
and Mexico
in 1986, then in Nicaragua
in 1998. Casa Alianza provides a range of services from street outreach to legal aid services and care for over 12,000 children a year.
, with the first site being founded in Guatemala. Covenant House
proceeded to found Casa Alianza Honduras in 1987, Casa Alianza Mexico in 1988, and Casa Alianza Nicaragua in 1998 In addition to Casa Alianza's operations in direct support of children, the organization also has founded three separate fundraising and advocacy branches in Germany, the U.K. and Switzerland. The organization's international headquarters remains in New York City and is led by Kevin M. Ryan, the former commissioner of New Jersey
's Department of Children and Families (see Kevin Ryan (commissioner)
). Including the work of Casa Alianza, Covenant House
now serves 71,000 children throughout the Americas each year. "Casa Alianza" is merely the Spanish translation of "Covenant House
".
for an "outstanding achievement in the spirit of Olof Palme". The prize was conferred for the organization's “dedicated work to help street children in Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico" and “for the courageous defence of the rights of these children" and was awarded by "Andree Ruffo and Pierre Dionne, the President and Director General respectively".
In 1999, Casa Alianza in Latin America received the International Award for Children's Rights from the International Bureau for Children's Rights in Montreal, Canada.
In 2000, Casa Alianza received the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize
, which is claimed to be the "largest humanitarian award in the world". Though the award now comes with a $US 1.5 million prize, Casa Alianza received $US 1.0 million in 2000, which apparently was designated for the building of the Hilton Home ("Hogar Conrad N. Hilton") with a capacity of 94 beds. The award was presented by Queen Noor of Jordan.
In 2002, Casa Alianza in Guatemala received the Jorge Angel Livraga Award for its work with street children.
In 2006, Casa Alianza in Guatemala received the Order of the Quetzal
award, which is the highest award that the Guatemalan government bestows upon those doing humanitarian work in Guatemala.
In 2007, on the 19th of September, Casa Alianza in Guatemala received the Reina Sofia Award for its drug addiction program serving street children.
and its local founder, Luis Creel. The organization serves children from 12 to 18 years of age and comprises six separate homes. The Cenzontle Home phase 1 & 2 home is for newly arrived boys, while the Cenzontle Home phase 3 home is for young men with a longer time in the program. The Quetzal Homes follow a similar structure, with 3 separate homes (phases 1, 2 and 3) that serve a range from newly-arrived to long-term stay girls and young women. The SEDAC/Hogar Palomas serves young mothers with their babies up to the age of 24.
and Arnoldo Aleman
publicly expressed support for bringing Casa Alianza to Nicaragua, and ultimately Covenant House moved for its foundation. Following its foundation in January 1998, August of the same year saw the opening of a residential program for 26 boys and 8 girls coming off the streets. Although Casa Alianza Nicaragua's age range was 14-18 in its early existence, it quickly moved to a range of approximately 10-20 in response to the nation's need. In 2001, Casa Alianza Nicaragua opened a young mothers program for 15 mothers and their babes as well as a separate residence for 25 formerly homeless young girls. In 2003, the Conrad N. Hilton Home was completed and formally dedicated with the help of a $US 1.0 million prize stemming from the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Award. The home would house 94 beds for formerly homeless young boys and girls.
Casa Alianza Nicaragua recently participated in the 2010 Street Child World Cup in Durban, South Africa, placing in a tie for 3rd with the United Kingdom.
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n branch of Covenant House
Covenant House
Covenant House is the largest privately funded agency in the Americas providing shelter, food, immediate crisis care, and an array of other services to homeless, and runaway youth. In addition to basic needs, Covenant House provides a continuum of care to homeless youth aged 16–21 designed to...
. It is a charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
and NGO
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
whose aims are the rehabilitation and the defence of street child
Street Child
Street Child is a debut album by Mexican alternative rock vocalist, Elan. It contains her biggest hit, Midnight.Ricardo Burgos from Sony Music called Street Child "a history making release in Latin America".-Re-edition track listing:...
ren. It was first set up in Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
in 1981, then in both Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in 1986, then in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
in 1998. Casa Alianza provides a range of services from street outreach to legal aid services and care for over 12,000 children a year.
History
Casa Alianza was founded in Latin America in 1981 in response to the rampant human rights abuses taking place throughout the region. Casa Alianza was founded by the U.S.-based organization Covenant HouseCovenant House
Covenant House is the largest privately funded agency in the Americas providing shelter, food, immediate crisis care, and an array of other services to homeless, and runaway youth. In addition to basic needs, Covenant House provides a continuum of care to homeless youth aged 16–21 designed to...
, with the first site being founded in Guatemala. Covenant House
Covenant House
Covenant House is the largest privately funded agency in the Americas providing shelter, food, immediate crisis care, and an array of other services to homeless, and runaway youth. In addition to basic needs, Covenant House provides a continuum of care to homeless youth aged 16–21 designed to...
proceeded to found Casa Alianza Honduras in 1987, Casa Alianza Mexico in 1988, and Casa Alianza Nicaragua in 1998 In addition to Casa Alianza's operations in direct support of children, the organization also has founded three separate fundraising and advocacy branches in Germany, the U.K. and Switzerland. The organization's international headquarters remains in New York City and is led by Kevin M. Ryan, the former commissioner of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
's Department of Children and Families (see Kevin Ryan (commissioner)
Kevin Ryan (commissioner)
Kevin Ryan , is a lawyer and champion for the protection of homeless children and youth, who serves as the President of Covenant House International, which is one of the largest charities serving homeless, trafficked and sexually exploited youth in the Americas...
). Including the work of Casa Alianza, Covenant House
Covenant House
Covenant House is the largest privately funded agency in the Americas providing shelter, food, immediate crisis care, and an array of other services to homeless, and runaway youth. In addition to basic needs, Covenant House provides a continuum of care to homeless youth aged 16–21 designed to...
now serves 71,000 children throughout the Americas each year. "Casa Alianza" is merely the Spanish translation of "Covenant House
Covenant House
Covenant House is the largest privately funded agency in the Americas providing shelter, food, immediate crisis care, and an array of other services to homeless, and runaway youth. In addition to basic needs, Covenant House provides a continuum of care to homeless youth aged 16–21 designed to...
".
Awards
In 1996, Casa Alianza in Latin America received the Swedish Olof Palme PrizeOlof Palme Prize
The Olof Palme Prize is an annual prize awarded for an outstanding achievement in the spirit of Olof Palme. The Prize consists of a diploma and 75,000 US dollars.-Receivers of the Olof Palme Prize :*1987 Cyril Ramaphosa...
for an "outstanding achievement in the spirit of Olof Palme". The prize was conferred for the organization's “dedicated work to help street children in Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico" and “for the courageous defence of the rights of these children" and was awarded by "Andree Ruffo and Pierre Dionne, the President and Director General respectively".
In 1999, Casa Alianza in Latin America received the International Award for Children's Rights from the International Bureau for Children's Rights in Montreal, Canada.
In 2000, Casa Alianza received the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize
Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation is an American non-profit charitable foundation, established in 1944 by hotel entrepreneur Conrad N. Hilton. It remained relatively small until his death on January 3, 1979 when it was named the principal beneficiary of his estate...
, which is claimed to be the "largest humanitarian award in the world". Though the award now comes with a $US 1.5 million prize, Casa Alianza received $US 1.0 million in 2000, which apparently was designated for the building of the Hilton Home ("Hogar Conrad N. Hilton") with a capacity of 94 beds. The award was presented by Queen Noor of Jordan.
In 2002, Casa Alianza in Guatemala received the Jorge Angel Livraga Award for its work with street children.
In 2006, Casa Alianza in Guatemala received the Order of the Quetzal
Order of the Quetzal
The Order of the Quetzal is Guatemala’s highest honor. Established in 1973, it is bestowed by the Government of Guatemala. The award acknowledges officials of nations, organizations and other entities whose artistic, civic, humanitarian, or scientific works merit special recognition....
award, which is the highest award that the Guatemalan government bestows upon those doing humanitarian work in Guatemala.
In 2007, on the 19th of September, Casa Alianza in Guatemala received the Reina Sofia Award for its drug addiction program serving street children.
Honduras
Casa Alianza Honduras was co-founded by Jose Manuel Capellin, and works with children from 12–18 years old. The Honduras branch of Casa Alianza, much like the others through Latin America, focuses on services ranging from street outreach to residential care to family reintegration and preparation for independent life. Casa Alianza Honduras is perhaps best known for its continual push to bring to light the extrajudicial killings of children and young people. In addition, the 2008 Human Rights Report published by the U.S. Department of State cites Casa Alianza as providing nearly half of all beds available for displaced and homeless youth in the country.Guatemala
On January 16, 2009, Casa Alianza Guatemala declared a financial crisis, ceased operations, and shut down. Prior to closing, Casa Alianza Guatemala was the largest service provider to homeless youth in Guatemala, serving nearly 150 children each night in its residential program and having one of the region's strongest legal support programs for disenfranchised youth. It appears, however, that Covenant House has sponsored a new organization in Guatemala, however - Asociacion La Alianza - which is in the process of relaunching activities based out of Casa Alianza Guatemala's former facilities. The primary activities of the new organization seem to be focused on fighting the crime of human trafficking via victim protection (residential program).Mexico
Casa Alianza Mexico was founded in 1988 by Covenant HouseCovenant House
Covenant House is the largest privately funded agency in the Americas providing shelter, food, immediate crisis care, and an array of other services to homeless, and runaway youth. In addition to basic needs, Covenant House provides a continuum of care to homeless youth aged 16–21 designed to...
and its local founder, Luis Creel. The organization serves children from 12 to 18 years of age and comprises six separate homes. The Cenzontle Home phase 1 & 2 home is for newly arrived boys, while the Cenzontle Home phase 3 home is for young men with a longer time in the program. The Quetzal Homes follow a similar structure, with 3 separate homes (phases 1, 2 and 3) that serve a range from newly-arrived to long-term stay girls and young women. The SEDAC/Hogar Palomas serves young mothers with their babies up to the age of 24.
Nicaragua
Founded in January 1998, Casa Alianza Nicaragua proceeded from a long history of support from Nicaragua's first two freely elected presidents. Both Violeta ChamorroVioleta Chamorro
Violeta Barrios Torres de Chamorro is a Nicaraguan political leader, former president and publisher. She became president of Nicaragua on April 25, 1990, when she unseated Daniel Ortega...
and Arnoldo Aleman
Arnoldo Alemán
José Arnoldo Alemán Lacayo was the 81st President of Nicaragua from 10 January 1997 to 10 January 2002.-Biography:Alemán was born in Managua and received his early education at the La Salle institute in Managua...
publicly expressed support for bringing Casa Alianza to Nicaragua, and ultimately Covenant House moved for its foundation. Following its foundation in January 1998, August of the same year saw the opening of a residential program for 26 boys and 8 girls coming off the streets. Although Casa Alianza Nicaragua's age range was 14-18 in its early existence, it quickly moved to a range of approximately 10-20 in response to the nation's need. In 2001, Casa Alianza Nicaragua opened a young mothers program for 15 mothers and their babes as well as a separate residence for 25 formerly homeless young girls. In 2003, the Conrad N. Hilton Home was completed and formally dedicated with the help of a $US 1.0 million prize stemming from the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Award. The home would house 94 beds for formerly homeless young boys and girls.
Casa Alianza Nicaragua recently participated in the 2010 Street Child World Cup in Durban, South Africa, placing in a tie for 3rd with the United Kingdom.