Building Dignity

Our mission: to enhance educational opportunities, train local leaders, and support neighborhood-led development. 

Specifically, Building Dignity works in the community of Lomo de Corvina (Lima) where 55,000 Peruvians struggle against socio-economic exclusion. In 2009 we collaborated with neighbors in Lomo de Corvina to build the Center for Development with Dignity, an innovative community resource center.

Today, two local leaders, Jesús Valencia and Martha Huamán, live on the second floor of the Center and help guide Building Dignity's activities, which correspond to three program areas:

1. Community Education: We provide academic and recreational programs for children, youth and adults. Specifically, we offer  reading and math reinforcement classes for at-risk children and youth; one-on-one or small group tutoring in our “homework help” program; and cultural activities such as music, dance and art workshops.    
2. Leadership Academy: Building Dignity empowers individuals to become agents of change through an innovative leadership program that enables youth and adults to identify pressing needs in their community, propose solutions, and develop the skills necessary to implement their ideas.
3. Leadership Grants: We provide financial and technical support to citizen-led development projects. This program allows Leadership Academy participants to activate their new skills and take effective action towards addressing needs in their community. In the past, these citizen-led projects have included the creation of a public playground, the installation of a permanent roof on the local preschool building, an awareness campaign on teen pregnancy (organized by young people), and an educational initiative about drug and alchol abuse (also organized by young people).

Learn more about our programs at http://www.buildingdignity.org and http://www.facebook.com/Building.Dignity