We are celebrating a big program accomplishment: CAPTA has graduated 20 different groups since its first in 2005. To date the program has trained 456 women for employment and 66% of them are working in the hotel industry.
CAPTA’s reach goes beyond employment training; CAPTA has motivated and inspired women to work toward a goal in their lives: a house, an education or job stability. Many CAPTA women have started as housekeepers and
are now working in administrative areas as receptionists and even as accountants!
Fundacion Calicanto is proud of each and every one of our graduates; they motivate us to continue our work in this community and they have proven that if given the tools to learn and find employment, they can succeed.
We’ve had many special guests celebrate this great accomplishment with us: Jonathan Farrar, United States Ambassador to Panama; Aprile Age, Director for the John P. McNulty Prize Foundation, Stanley Motta, Chairman of COPA Airlines, board directors, previous graduates and others.
We would especially like to thank all of our friends on Global Giving who could not be there but keep in touch through our reports; this accomplishment would not be possible without you. I hope that you continue to keep in touch with
our work and look forward to the next 20 CAPTA groups, just like we do!
Thank you all!
In Enlaces we believe dancing is transformational. Kids not only work on physical and creative techniques, they learn how to calibrate their own energy and emotions, in order to become leaders in performing arts and social change promoters.As a part of this self-recognition process, every three months they have dancing exams to set standards and make them aware of their own artistic progress. The examination is a two-fold process. First we test the execution of previously learned movement sequences and second each student has to create a movement sequence or dance based on established rules or themes. The emphasis on creativity, improvisation and self-expression is a core part of the program. Some of the aspects to be considered on the evaluation are technique, coordination, clarity of movement, memory, expressivity and creativity. In the first video we see two pair of kids doing an improvisational exercise where they have to mirror each other's movements. On first instance one is the leader and then the roles are reversed.In a couple of days, we'll also post a second video showing Jose performing his individual movement sequence, so please, check it to see this kid's talent in action.Following examination days, Fundacion Calicanto calls on open auditions for new talent and as a way to create interaction with the community.As a final note, we are very excited and proud because two boys of our program were selected to be part of a local television show that will air in September. The show's purpose is to encourage children to reach their maximum artistic (dance) potential and develop their charisma. This show is a great opportunity that will expose them to experiences that otherwise will not be accessible to them. It will help them to grow both personally and artistically, and contribute to their development as positive and influential leaders in their community.
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Fundacion Calicanto celebrates the women who graduated from the second computer club this year!
After 12 weeks of hard work, the girls learned everything from basic computer use to internet search options. We celebrated this accomplishment on June 18th with small snacks and a graduation ceremony where we presented them with Certificates of Accomplishments.
Before the celebration, the girls had to show their classmates what they had learned, the test: opening their own e-mail and Facebook accounts. They were successful!
The girls were very emotional; some even mentioned that they had never received a certificate before.
Congratulations girls, on to the next challenge!
