Boys at the farm property outside San Marcos. After first contacts on the street with Los Quinchos representatives, kids who are interested attempt the "filter house" in Managua where they withdraw from glue-sniffing or other drugs and begin to exist in a structured environment. If they make it through the filter house and show they are serious about going in a new direction, they come here to the farm. Here there are animals, gardens, 100-year-old trees in a sort of nature preserve, psychological and nursing services, and a meticulously structured daily schedule. However, the boys are not constantly monitored; if they wanted to, they could leave easily during the bus rides or walks to and from school, for example. Some of the kids have intermittent contact with family members, but real support is rare.
In the photo, the boy at the left is learning how to weave hammocks from his teacher, the older boy who is also a Los Quinchos resident. The little boy was very young when he came into the program and is a bit of a challenge for the staff!