at
40% of the Latin American population was living in poverty and 19% were indigent. 
The problem has grown steadily worse, owing in large part to service of the
countries' external debt, which between 1983 and 1989 amounted to $US 184
billion.  For adolescents who live and grow up in urban fringe areas, the situation is
even more serious, since such places present high risks for the development of
disease and negative behavior patterns.

     The use of free time, for example, in these marginal