Many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are already adopting breakthrough initiatives to empower children at the national and local levels. Such programs embrace - among other lines of action - early childcare and development, access to quality education, and cultural and recreational activities. Whatever the scope or field of work, program practitioners across the region are capitalizing on the following "key areas" to succeed:

1. A Three-Prong Approach. While past development strategies merely attempted to help or correct the present situation of children-at-risk, new approaches are finding it essential to also strengthen the development of these children within the context of their families, schools and communities. This new generation of programs focuses, among other issues, on the disintegration of the family; the social implications of violence in the community; unemployment; the poor quality of education; and the lack of adequate training programs for law enforcement institutions.

2. The Power of Partnerships. The collaboration of civil society and governments has proved key in ensuring that the voices of children, as well as those of their families, schools and communities, are heard within the policy-making arena. Such partnerships range from on-going policy dialogues to collective forms of action.

3. The Use of Creative Techniques. Through creative techniques such as non-formal education, street theater, music or participatory dialogue, many programs are creating spaces for children to learn, express themselves and reclaim aspects of their childhood lost to their marginal existence.