By Anna Zimbrick | Director of Partnerships
Thanks to your support, Fundación Acción Joven is helping more than 300 youth in Limón, Costa Rica, finish high school! We are grateful for the generosity of everyone who participated in our first Global Giving campaign and helped us raise $5,020, allowing us to continue our work impacting youth from socially vulnerable communities.
The last several months have been busy for our staff and the youth we work with. The following details some of the major accomplishments and activities we carried out over the past several months and through the first half of September with students at Pacuare High School. Thanks for partnering with us in this work.
Preventing High School Dropout after the July Vacation
In July, public school students have a two week vacation. The time right after this vacation period is critical for providing follow-up and support, as some students do not return to high school after vacation and end up dropping out. Fundación Acción Joven provided support to Pacuare High School in assessing which students hadn´t returned to school right after the vacation period and in providing follow-up (calls and home visits) to help students return to school. In August alone, FAJ staff carried out 33 individual follow-up visits with students, helping them address and overcome academic, social and family issues.
Youth Employment Program
During August, 58 10th grade students at Pacuare High School have been participating in sessions focused on Youth Employment led by Fundación Acción Joven staff in Limón. The students are improving their social skills, such as team work, assertive communication, positive interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution, which are critical abilities for getting and maintaining a job. The students have also learned how to prepare a résumé, apply for jobs and do well in an interview.
As part of this Program, Fundación Acción Joven has also organized company visits for the students to a variety of businesses in different sectors. These visits enable the students to learn about different job opportunities and the requirements to work in a given sector or position. Also, as the company employees share with the students about their work and how they got to their position, the students are motivated to finish high school.
So far, the students have visited companies in San José, including:
After one of the company visits, one of the Fundación Acción Joven project coordinators shared the following regarding the impact these visits generate for the participating youth:
“The company visits have been a complete success. The students have broadened their perspectives, not only at an academic level, but also with regard to their professional goals. This type of activity allows the youth to see that there´s thousands of positive options in the country that they can choose, provided that they work hard and study.
The shift in the social paradigm that we are seeking to generate is happening through planting a seed in the youth that with hard work and dedication, they can achieve the goals that they set…The companies treat the youth really well and the youth notice it. They feel important, and now, many of them have a dream, and they realize that it is possible to overcome the challenges they face.”
Drops of Life Group: preventing bullying and promoting respect
We have also been supporting a group of 15 students that have suffered bullying and social exclusion. Through workshops with FAJ on human rights and other topics, the students have formed a group, which they named Gotitas de Vida (Drops of Life) and have carried out activities to raise awareness at Pacuare High School regarding tolerance, respect and bullying prevention. With support from FAJ, an artist and the high school administration, the group painted a mural promoting social inclusion and provided information to fellow students and teachers on respect for diversity of sexual orientation.
As a result of this work, the group was invited to present their initiative at a bullying prevention event in August at the National Distance Education University (UNED) in San José. As part of the group´s visit to San José, FAJ also organized a workshop for the students with a nutritionist and someone who had overcome an eating disorder, in order to support students who are struggling with body image issues and eating disorders.
Celebration of Limón and Afro Costa Rican Culture Day
On August 31st, Fundación Acción Joven supported and joined with entire Pacuare High School and the community to celebrate Limón and Afro Costa Rican Culture Day with special dances, food and cultural activities. Promoting cultural and positive recreational activities for youth is an important part of what we do and helps promote a sense of belonging and identity for youth with their high school and community.
Pacuare High School Celebrates its 5th Anniversary
On September 7th, Fundación Acción Joven joined with Pacuare High School in celebrating its 5th Anniversary. FAJ helped prepare for the celebration ceremony and was honored to be recognized by the Pacuare High School Principal for our work in supporting the high school and helping prevent high school dropout.
Graduation of Minds in Action—Youth Women in Technology Program
A group of five young women students from Pacuare High School were chosen to be part of the MenTe Program, an initiative of one of our partners, Ideas en Acción. This project promotes young Costa Rican women´s participation in science and technology. The participating youth from Pacuare High School traveled to San José for training sessions on Saturdays over 12 weeks, where they learned how to program, received support to develop their leadership skills and learned how to develop and pitch a business idea. Fundación Acción Joven provided follow up support for the participating young women and was pleased to join in celebrating their success with the graduation ceremony on September 12th.
Thanks again for your support!
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding this project or would like more information on how to stay involved.
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