Puerto Rican Youth from Despair to Hope

As we described in our Puerto Rican Youth from Despair to Hope project, our youth focus strategy combines personalized education, psychological and social work support, skills for jobs, entrepreneurial education, vocational and work experience, arts, sports, prevention workshops, and community service.  Our youth come from very low income families. These families confront diverse and profound social problems such as addiction, alcoholism, mental illness, lack of one or both parental figures, among others -- all of which intensely impact the lives of the youth. These problems have been magnified by a number of events over recent years and months: hurricanes Maria and Fiona; the pandemic; earthquakes and tremors; flooding. 

Surviving and flourishing are our goals for each of youth. All of our strategies are designed so that each youth recognizes and affirms their own beauty, talents, value, and potential. Each semester our alternative, accredited HIgh School enrolls over 150 students and provides post secondary follow up to approximately 75 more.  During the past several months along with the academic program our youth have participated in a nation wide NASA scientific project to simulate planting vegetables and other plants on the moon. This links them with a worldwide community of youth engaged in scientific experimients. The youth have, also, visited and participated in a local TV program "Puerto Rico Wins" giving them the opportunity to present their achievements and to develop in self esteem. Several of our youth were offered internships over three days at the state legislature of Puerto Rico. Sports events and activities are an essential part of our alternative high school and facilitate the development of self esteem and leadership.

Another program that P.E.C.E.S., Inc. offers is Smart Plus, this is a series of prevention workshops in public schools throughout Puerto Rico including: Humacao, Cayey, Ceiba, Barranquitas, and Aibonito  that develop resilience and a positive self image in adolescents. This year we are impacting 432 adolescents with over 100 more waiting to begin the workshops in late spring.  This is the work of transforming lives. This is the work of preparing future/present leaders who will become agents of change in their communities.