Helping Families Break Cycles of Violence

Another month is coming to a close at Fundación Junto Con los Niños (JUCONI). As the cooler months begin to fade and a heavy humidity comes to the communities we serve in Guayaquil, our psychologists are often returning to the office more exhausted from the long days and intense work with families.

However, one of our finest psychologists returns each day from the communities with a certain bounce in his step because of the success he sees each day.  With great pride I would like to introduce you to Michael, one of the 400 kids JUCONI regularly works with. Michael is 12 years old and through the last year and a half has received weekly visits to his family by a JUCONI psychologist. Michael, full of energy, used to be an extremely aggressive child who used violence as a way to express himself. Whether it was his parents, or his two younger brothers and younger sister, or even JUCONI´s psychologist himself, Michael responded with aggression to each thing asked of him. In school, Michael was nearly expelled for both his behavior and for his grades.

This is nothing like the Michael I know who hugs me each day I see him.

Michael has advanced rapidly in the JUCONI process as has the rest of his family. Not only has JUCONI taken notice, but his school as well as his grades and behavior are both improved. Michael is now a respectful and tranquil child, but most of all, he is happy. A regular participant of JUCONI´s art club, Michael waits anxiously with his family for each session to begin as a way to express himself. The same psychologist who saw such rebellious behavior now tells me about how Michael waits on his stoop each week to start his therapy. Coming in September JUCONI will take 15 kids to see the whales off the coast of Ecuador. Michael has never been to the beach before but is excited to go for the first time with JUCONI. It is with your continued support that opportunities like this are possible and we could not be more grateful.