Christmas Nativity

The “Christmas Nativity” project was directed at adolescent offenders at the Alfonso Ugarte Youth Center in Arequipa, and focused on perfecting the amigurumi knitting technique learned through the “Weaving a Better Future” Project.

Its main objective is to contribute to the social reintegration of adolescents in conflict with the law by perfecting the manual amigurumi knitting technique, which develops practical skills, creativity, perseverance, and concentration.

The project also seeks to strengthen self-esteem, promote social integration and offer an alternative for income generation, positively impacting the personal development of participants and preventing recidivism, in line with the principles of child and adolescent protection.

Objectives

Main Objective

Contribute to the social reintegration of adolescent offenders at the “Alfonso Ugarte Youth Center” in Arequipa, through the perfecting of the amigurumi knitting technique, promoting personal, social, and economic development.

Specific Objectives

1. Perfect the amigurumi knitting technique among the adolescents.
2. Develop capabilities such as concentration, memory and creativity, and virtues such as patience, perseverance, and self-discipline among participants.
3. Foster responsibility, respect, decision-making, teamwork, and commitment among participants.
4. Provide an alternative for income generation through the optimization and mastery of the technique.
5. Promote the social integration of the adolescents.

Results

• 8 adolescents who had previously participated in the “Weaving a Better Future” Project were trained. They decided to get involved in this second project to knit the “Christmas Nativity”, perfecting and mastering the amigurumi technique, demonstrating remarkable manual and creative development.
• Each participant made one or more characters for the Christmas nativity set, reflecting high-quality artisan production.
• An increase in self-esteem and confidence was observed among the adolescents.
• Feelings of satisfaction and achievement were generated upon completing their characters.
• The project generated positive expectations about the possibility of generating income after release, fostering hope and motivation toward social reintegration.