Chile has the highest rates of teen suicide in Latin America and some of the highest levels of school violence. Kids who are or appear to be lesbian, gay, bi or trans are among the most vulnerable to discrimination and at higher risks of self harm. Todo Mejora works to save lives! We develop programs in vulnerable schools that promote diversity, safe spaces, and prevent homophobic bullying. With funds from this campaign, we will reach 2,000+ students 10-18, teachers & school principals.
In addition to Chile's high rates of youth suicide and school violence, UNICEF Chile also showed that LGBT children suffer the grunt of school based discrimination. They are 4 to 8 times more likely to commit suicide than their heterosexual counterparts. Public services -health & education- are not set up to respond to their needs. Schools officials lack knowledge, educational resources & skills to protect the most vulnerable. And, Chile has no national laws that protect LGBT children from harm.
Todo Mejora, an independent affiliate of the It Gets Better project, helps to prevent suicide & promotes inclusive and respectful school environments. By adapting global interventions that work, Todo Mejora provides on-going training to Chilean school officials to implement strategies that foster respect for diversity, prevent homo/transphobic bullying & provide support to students suffering from discrimination. It also provides policy guidance to Chilean authorities as a LGBT child advocate.
With your support Todo Mejora will reach 2,000+ students and school officials with high quality diversity training, guidance materials, and a visibility campaign. In short, it will generate an inclusive environment for children, a space free of homophobic violence. This project will also be set as an example for other school districts, and continue to build school-based evidence that Todo Mejora uses to advocate for LGBT children in the Ministry of Education and the National Council on Children.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
