Helping Families Break Cycles of Violence

If you ask anyone what the best sights to see in Guayaquil are, they generally respond with the following: the boardwalk, the park with iguanas, the oldest neighborhood of Las Peñas, or Parque Histórico. 

The sad reality is that many of the familys Fundación Junto con los Niños (JUCONI) works with do not have the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful parts of their own city. The costs of mobilizing an entire family can be too much for a family so if they do have the opportunity to travel it is not often for fun, but out of a need.

That is why we at JUCONI organized a trip for 15 of the families that we work with to the local Parque Histórico.  Parque Histórico is located just outside the city limits of Guayaquil and is a place where history and nature come together. JUCONI accompanied families so they could share a great experience together and get an up close look at a different side of Guayaquil. Families saw a wide range of animals as well as old buildings from centuries ago. The trip was just one of the many that JUCONI provides for families as we try to provide positive experiences for families to help in the therapeutic process.  

What surprised me most about the trip was that some of the mothers were more scared of the animals than the kids. What never surprises me is the amazing change that we see in the families as time goes on and they grow together. None of this would be possible without your continued support and for that I am forever grateful. Thank you so much.

Best,

Joseph Amiri

There is nothing more important than a smile. But at the same time, there is nothing more terrifying for a child than a trip to the dentist.

A trip to the dentist has not been a major point of fear for those in Fundación Junto con los Niños (JUCONI). Many of the families that JUCONI serves are extremely disadvantaged and live day to day. The idea of doctor and dental visits for preventative measures is something that is very rare for the populations that JUCONI works with.

With that said, JUCONI had the privilege to host a visit by local dentistry students from a local university to teach about the importance of dental hygiene. Following the completion of the workshop explaining proper brushing techniques, each 20 of the JUCONI kids were able to receive a dental cleaning and a small kit to take home to show off their knowledge.

JUCONI was there to show the kids that the dentist is nothing to be afraid of. When a red fluoride was used, fear immobilized the group with everyone as blood was the first thing that came to mind. Order and tranquility was restored when my colleague Aurelio rinsed his mouth to show that his teeth were cleaner than ever. It was then his task to try to control the line as kids hurried to be the next one for our makeshift dentist´s chair in the local school of Socio Vivienda.

Our team at JUCONI was so happy to make such an impact on the healthy development of kids and we hope that each kid is able to teach their neighbors, siblings, and even parents, about what they learned. We could not be more grateful for the local university dentistry students for coming to see what life is like in our communities and with the greatest kids we know. We are grateful for your continued support and only wish you could accompany us to take pride in the changes that we see each day.

Thank you again for your support.

Sincerely,

Joseph Amiri