ready-for-life youth initiative

This summer, Bienestar is kicking our youth program offerings into high gear, offering a wide variety of daily programs to the children of farm workers and low-income working families to help them stay engaged and healthy.

The "summer slide" is a real issue that Bienestar children face and which we see in our Homework Club each fall when children return to school behind where they left off in June. Bienestar youth programs attempt to counter this trend by providing activities every weekday where kids can learn, play, create, eat healthy food, and interact with other children and adults in a stimulating environment - rather than sitting at home in front of the TV or computer.

Summer Lunch and Fun began June 21st, and provides approximately 125 lunches and 2 hours of activities Monday through Friday for the children of Bienestar and the Hillsboro community. A full calendar of events and activities include visits from the police department, owl pellet dissection, soccer, basketball, reading contests, and even the opportunity to hold snakes and other small animals when Zoo to You came to visit.

Now for the third year in a row, PlayWrite has provided an outlet for Bienestar teens to express personal issues and concerns through theater. The young writers are encouraged to draw from personal experiences, and create conflict and dialog to breathe life into nonhuman characters to tell their stories which are then acted out by professional actors. “In one play, a young leaf wants to see the world, but is worried about losing his connection to the tree. In another, an apple struggles to climb up a hill, needing the help of an unwilling pencil” says Andrea Castillo, writer for the Oregonian.

A basic Music Class was provided for the children of Bienestar’s Elm Park Apartments in forest Grove. Using recorders, the children learned rhythm, notes, fingering and how to read music. After the six week course, which met once a week, a recital was held in which Beethoven and Mary Had a Little Lamb delighted parents, staff, and the community.

Eight children ages 6 through 10 participated in Computer Club at the Sunset Garden Apartments. Here, the children learned basic computer operations such as how to use a mouse and keyboard, internet safety and essential Microsoft programs such as Word and PowerPoint. The class culminated with PowerPoint presentation in which the children demonstrated their new skills and interests. Erick Pedroza, a shy eight year old who came to the first class crying, pushed by his mother, was the first one to stand up and proudly do his presentation.

Explorador Camp, in partnership with the Audubon Society of Portland, will begin this August and give 100 children the opportunity to experience nature and local natural areas such as Jackson Bottom Wetlands, The Audubon Society of Portland’s Sanctuary, Hagg Lake and The Oregon Coast. This program is one of Bienestar’s most popular programs and the highlight of the summer for many of our young residents.

As you can see, summer is a busy time at Bienestar! We appreciate the support of the GlobalGiving Community and look forward to sharing more program outcomes this fall with the generous funders of Listos Para Vida.

Links:

• PlayWrite article in the Oregonian