Puerto Rico's at-risk students need to reconnect with their support systems through activities that spark their interest in learning after months of being isolated due to remote learning. This project will allow 80 students from marginalized communities to participate in unique woodworking workshops in a supportive and safe environment. This activity will nurture their creativity, communication, collaboration, and motor skills much needed for their growth and and positive development.
Puerto Rico public school students have been struggling to continue their education because they lack the technological resources required by remote learning. Being isolated from school, affects not only their academic development, but more importantly, their mental, physical, and emotional well-being. The pandemic has disrupted the much-needed experiences which enable at-risk students to gain knowledge and skills which prepare them for postsecondary education and the labor market.
We propose a series of woodworking skills workshops for students participate in a safe and fun group activity which involves both mental and social abilities. Students will reconnect with peers and supportive adults in a secure manner and stimulate the creativity, self-confidence and social skills which have been stalled during the pandemic. Gaining new skills in woodworking will also expose the students to new possibilities in trades and businesses that might interest them as future careers.
This project will provide 80 Puerto Rican youths a service which will nurture creativity, communication, collaboration, and the creation of concrete useful things. Enriching their academic, personal, and social growth is critical following the impact of the global pandemic. By offering new and creative ways to support their well-being and positive development, students will discover their potential to choose a path to a future of personal fulfillment and success.
