advancing potential: six objectives to improve children’s lives
Design Research Respondents In-depth design research into the two chosen development objectives formed the core of this initial policymaking process. Over the course of three weeks of investigation centered in the regional capital of Puerto Cabezas, researchers engaged with a total of 64 respondents reflecting a broad range of socioeconomic, ethnic and cultural perspectives on the experience of childrearing and childhood in RAAN. A more detailed discussion of characteristics of the respondent sample and implications for the findings is included in the methodology annex.
respondent category 2
fathers
6
mothers with partners
17 single mothers 7
doctors and nurses
1
midwife
3
modern health administrators
5
school administrators
11 students 3
teachers
6
government officials
3
other
cultural/ethnic affiliation
64
15 creole 5
mestizo
21 miskito
respondents
23 other/declined to state
age RAAN
Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua
15 <18 6
18–30
19 31–40 20 41+ 4
declined to state
gender 47 female 17 male
23 a promise to every child
insights and opportunities: promoting maternal and infant care Promoting Maternal and Infant Care
Lidia’s Support Network family
Strongest support
Sandra, Lidia’s mother 42, a native Miskito speaker who came to Puerto Cabezas from the Las Minas territory. She earns a living cleaning government offices.
modern health provider local health post A small public clinic offering free prenatal checkups.
Lidia
extended family
traditional health provider
Deborah & Laura, cousins 21 and 27, both unmarried, with 5 children between the two of them. They have a small used clothing shop.
Alma, a midwife
church Estranged
partner
Central Moravian Church of Puerto Cabezas
Estranged
Roberto, father of Lidia’s child 28, unmarried, unemployed lobster fisherman.
72, has delivered generations of the same families in Puerto Cabezas.
.
The majority of the city’s population practices the Moravian faith. The church is a key social hub as well as a spiritual center.
strength of support stronger weaker
30 a promise to every child
insights: social values, discipline, and self-development for children Meet Kaku: Searching for a Place to Grow
Kaku’s Support Network
extracurricular activities
friends
soccer team
Strongest support
An informal soccer league that teenage boys play in on the weekends.
Slah & Mamiskra, members of the neighborhood gang 13, 14, best friends and in Kaku’s class at school.
Kaku education
family
Kaku’s school
Moved away
A public secondary school in the rough Cocal neighborhood.
Fernando, Kaku’s cousin 17, a student at Kaku’s secondary school.
church strength of support stronger weaker
58 a promise to every child
family Silvia, Kaku’s mother 29, she runs a shortorder restaurant in their neighborhood.
the Cocal’s Moravian church The majority of the city’s population practices the Moravian faith. The church is a key social hub as well as a spiritual center.