Amaya, 16, Mexico
Basic need(s):
Education, Health, Safety
Project:
"Conectate Por Tu Salud" ("Online For Health")
Amaya had heard all of the warnings from her friends and brothers, but she didn’t believe any of them until she witnessed it first-hand. “I realized it’s everywhere—the bathrooms and even right in the hallways…and security covers for them. The drug users as well as the drug dealers…they were all over campus distributing and using their junk.” To combat this growing plague, Amaya created “Conectate Por Tú Salud,” a project as effective as it is simple. Knowing that almost all of her fellow students as well as teachers and administrative employees have cell phones fitted with cameras and/or video-cameras, Amaya decided to place the onus to help on her school’s community. “Any one of us can send anonymous messages to school directors with information and video or picture of the drug dealer or user.” Once the information is received it is then passed on to a team of security personnel who detain the offending peddler or, if it is a customer, direct him/her to rehab and call the parents. Amaya’s “Conectate Por Tú Salud” is on its way to affecting the 10,000 plus students at her school, having already impacted the first and third semester’s populations. Due to the project’s overwhelming and much needed success, the school has launched an official primary campaign, fully endorsing Amaya and her cause.
