Physical and Social Improvement Plans Underway for Najayo Juvenile Detention Center

Physical and Social Improvement Plans Underway for Najayo Juvenile Detention Center
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 12/20/2011

The Office of the First Lady will work on the physical infrastructure and develop social insertion and social-educational programs.

Cedeño de Fernández toured the entire area accompanied by the DPD’s Institutional Consultant, Ilse Mena, and the architect Erick Acevedo, who explained in detail the work to be done at the Najayo Juvenile Center in an effort to improve living conditions for the detainees.

Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, visited the Comprehensive Attention Center for Adolescents in Conflict with the Legal System (Najayo Juvenile Center) where she evaluated work that will be carried out by the Office of the First Lady (DPD in Spanish) in an effort to improve the physical infrastructure of the Center. The DPD will also develop social insertion and social-educational programs that will provide new opportunities to the young people detained there.

Cedeño de Fernández toured the entire area accompanied by the DPD’s Institutional Consultant, Ilse Mena, and the architect Erick Acevedo, who explained in detail the work to be done at the Najayo Juvenile Center in an effort to improve living conditions for the detainees.

During the tour of the Center, Cedeño de Fernández shared and listened to what several of the young detainees had to say. She stressed the need to continue working with families to get to the root of the problems that exist in the homes of the majority of young people who get into trouble with the law.

“My visit to Najayo Juvenile Center reaffirms the imperative that we must continue working with families, we must continue inculcating human, Christian and social values in our society,” Cedeño de Fernández posted on her Twitter account.

With this visit, the First Lady reaffirmed her commitment to contribute to the expansion of professional training and technology programs. She also stressed the need to deepen human values in young people while recognizing their dignity and transforming their points of references and models to follow.

Since 2009, the Office of the First Lady has been developing the “Start Over” project with the young detainees at the Najayo Juvenile Center with the goal of rebuilding their values and educating them for new life projects. These projects are oriented toward self-esteem, family and life planning, sexual and reproductive health, prevention of drugs and alcohol abuse, prevention of violence and adapting peaceful resolutions to conflicts.

The First Lady toured the center with Dominican Attorney General, Radhamés Jiménez; Adjunct Prosecutor for Children and Adolescents, Marisol Tobal; Doctor Ramona Coronado, Director of the Center, and Lieutenant Colonel, Elías Villar Tejeda, Security Chief of the Center.