Three years ago we collaborated with the association Alternativa Callejera, an alternative house that develops an attention program for street children and child labourers, between the ages of 7 and 20, in Mexico City. Alternativa Callejera has tried to offer the children distinct classes that allow them to develop their individual potential. The children can participate in distinct languages, one of which is Spanish. In our class we have participated in the first three types of interchange.
Personal communication is where the children communicate with each other one on one.
To participate in the project each child must write a little introduction about him or herself and upon reading these, if a child believes to share common ground with another, a communication will be established. As the children will sometimes write their messages in a restricted code that can only be understood by them, the teachers will ask them questions about what they have written to help them explain themselves more clearly. This type of open communication does have its problems and often it is necessary to find new ties in order to maintain interest and continue with the relation. These projects generally surge from group discussions. It is also possible for a child to propose an idea for a project and invite the rest to participate.