2021 brings this project to an end, as children and youngsters from our communities keep growing and maturing with the support of their families and teachers.
The project began just after Hurricane Maria, with the purpose of providing resilence tools to the youngest members of our communities. In the following years, we saw the need to continue the services as other events (earthquakes, pandemic) had an emotional impact in participants and their families.
The COVID-19 pandemic proved to be specially challenging. Nevertheless, our team was able to continue the services and even add other components to cater to new needs of children and their families.
By the end of 2020, the senior class of our alternative high school (52 students) had a one-in-a-kind graduation ceremony with social distance protocols. These students started their high school education in the wake of Hurricane Maria, and showed their intent and resilience throughout the three years of high school.
With the beginning of the spring semester, 273 students are going back to online learning. We have been able to provide online social work support, in addition to laptop computers to those in need. Psychological support is also available for family members.
All these services have been possible because of the noble heart of donors and supporters. We thank you for your collaboration. Please know that you have made it possible for these youngsters to go into their next stage in life with hope and optimism.
A blessed 2021 to all!!
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As we begin a new year and a new decade, we are very proud of the achievements of this project. Because of the commitment of donors, volunteers and empoyees, we were able to rebuild 104 houses in Punta Santiago -- 4 more than our original goal.
Of course, we could not just tend to the structures, and we followed our approach to impoving the life conditions of our community:
We are deactivating this project in order to focus on different needs of our participants and communities.
Thank you, again, to all who made this work possible. Please visit our newest project on Redefining Community Development in Puerto Rico, for details on how you can help us transform lives and reach our new goals.
Blessed 2021 to all!
A new school year and many challenges to overcome. The P.E.C.E.S. Accredited High School continues the educational process
through virtual modality. Educational and psychosocial support services have continued unabated since the COVID-19
Pandemic began. Against all odds, the school began the school year with an enrollment of 294 participants and an enrollment of
the Special Education program of 70 students. In this first quarter of the school year, more than 4,500 virtual connections with
students have been offered. Providing quality and adequate education for the times and reality of each family is guaranteed. The
staff has been working with the students with the few technological resources they have. Teachers and social workers contact
students through calls, texts, email, WhatsApp messages, Messenger, and video of the subjects are made to share with
students. We were able to acquire computers for 60% of the enrollment. Students who do not have computers or some
technology to help them are provided with the paper material (photocopies) and phone calls are made to explain the educational
material by phone call. At the beginning of the school year, several workshops were already offered to students to work on there
emotions and tools for distance education. The students so far have participated in the workshops “The Broken Plate” and
“Fishing”, allowing them to visualize new educational opportunities.
Guidance is consistently offered to motivate students to face this new reality that they are living.
Thank you for your contribution.
In gratitude, We wish you all a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!
