The Country
Current Situation
Argentina is about seven times the size of Germany and second in size in South America only to Brazil. In recent years, the economic situation has seen a dramatic decline. The economic crisis has resulted in unemployment and poverty. By now almost half of the population in Argentina lives below the poverty line - and the numbers are rising.
Our Location
San Salvador de Jujuy is the capital of the country's poorest province, situated at an altitude of 1,300 m with roughly 400,000 inhabitants. The city is marked by sprawling slums on all sides. In Punta Diamante, one of the slum areas with about 2,500 inhabitants, approx. 47% are under the age of 19. Many of them are single mothers aged 12-19. They mostly live in tiny brick huts with only basic sanitary facilities. It is part of normal life that many children - especially the younger ones - are left to themselves all day and many of them even have to "take care" of younger siblings.
