Granada, Nicaragua, is a city rich in culture and history. It is the oldest city of Nicaragua and is renowned for its picturesque architecture, beautiful coastal landscapes, and incredible beaches. However, despite this beauty, it also serves as a stark reminder of the poverty that plagues Central America; in fact, it is the second poorest country in Central America and Granada is statistically the poorest city in the region with an unemployment rate of 80%.
This poverty has created a distinct subculture within Granada known as chavalos. Chavalos are street children who have been marred by drug addiction and crime due to living on the streets. This isn’t an isolated problem either; thousands of children throughout Nicaragua have been forced to take to the streets due to desperation or lack of opportunities at home.
A recent documentary called ‘Chavalos de Granada’ offers insight into this unfortunate reality faced by so many people living in Nicaragua. The film follows three different angles—all from different backgrounds—experiencing life within this unique subculture.
This documentary also showcases how local organizations such as Casa Alianza are working to support these children who have been forced into a life of addiction and violence on the streets. In addition to providing food, clothing, medical care and psychological support, they are also creating social programs geared towards rehabilitation and reintegration of street children back into society.
If you want to gain more insight into what life is like for those living in poverty within Central America as well as learn more about how organizations like Casa Alianza are making a difference in their lives – then we encourage you watch ‘Chavalos de Granada’. Not only will it open your eyes to something that often gets overlooked in media coverage but it will also make you appreciate what we sometimes take for granted: a safe place to call home with access to opportunity.
