Transforming lives: Vulnerable children, Neiva Col

Transforming Lives: Vulnerable Children in Colombia (60132)

Summary of Activities - Report: 2024, 1st Trimestre

Circular Planet

Environmental educational days:

• Day of decoration, beautification and recovery in the San Juan Bosco park, donated by the alumni of the Salesiano San Medardo School. The objective was to protect the place and prevent it from becoming a dumping ground for garbage and debris. The activities included cleaning and maintenance pruning, planting trees and painting sardines.

• Environmental day in the community. Children and community members planted 100 corals, contributing to improving the environment. This act of environmental care shows that we can all protect our planet. Every tree planted, trash collected and effort to reduce resource consumption contributes to a sustainable future.

Environmental Talks:Periodic talks on caring for the environment: with a focus on knowledge and application of the 3 R's: Recycle, Reduce and Reuse. These talks in turn encourage changing daily and consumption habits as part of the fight for a more sustainable environment and to make the most of our natural resources. Conference on the challenges of Climate Change: virtual conference to the community on the challenges of climate change.Repeated talks to students: with a focus on how to contribute to caring for the environment. Reading club: emphasis on caring for the environmentThe ecological point was installed at the entrance to the PASO Headquarters to teach how to classify garbage responsibly and motivate students and their families to replicate it in each of their homes.

Cultural House (Art and Environmental Education):Its objective is to make an active contribution to society, in the sense of sustainable development, while striving for ecological viability and social justice.The following programs are active:

        Music: Students divided into 5 groups: musical initiation, children's band, youth band, guitars and piano. Topics related to global warming, the greenhouse effect, alternative energies, the protection of animal species and the conservation of natural resources are discussed in the activities and initiatives carried out in class. Additionally, we reflect on projects that, by reusing or recycling different materials, can build musical instruments. 

        Music: Students divided into 5 groups: musical initiation, children's band, youth band, guitars and piano. Topics related to global warming, the greenhouse effect, alternative energies, the protection of animal species and the conservation of natural resources are discussed in the activities and initiatives carried out in class. Additionally, we reflect on projects that, by reusing or recycling different materials, can build musical instruments. 

        Sponsor Plan:This plan makes it possible to raise awareness among the sponsored child and his or her family on issues related to the environment, the care of biodiversity and its protection. We teach the importance of caring for the environment, respect for living beings, recycling and reusing materials, reducing pollution, among other related topics. 

        Techno-academy (name under review): Proposal for an environmental initiative, with learning activities related to science and technology and environmental education. 

        Academic reinforcement: Aimed at students who voluntarily want to take it with the purpose of reinforcing respect for the environment, citizen values and basic sciences and languages (English and Spanish). Teachers according to the requirements of interested students. Additionally, we offer personalized psychological support to all children and their families, motivating them to have greater belonging and improve self-esteem. 

        Seamstress: Active program with women and mothers who are heads of households in the neighborhood who are taught and guided in making clothing and household products. The program aims to give them tools that allow them to improve their quality of life and direct them to search for new opportunities (sources of income). 

        Periodic conferences: The Red PaPaz organization through the ¡Tu Lideras! program. He has been accompanying us with topics on reducing the consumption of electronic cigarettes to protect the health of minors and conferences on doubts and opportunities that exist around the onset of puberty.

Some Personal Stories 

One of the girls who benefits from the program is very determined 13-year-old who is very focused on completing her primary school despite challenges her family experiences. She and her two siblings depend of parents that have problems with drugs, HIV as well as an unstable job of collecting recyclable items on the streets. She is also an active participant of the music group where she learns social skills, motivation as well as getting medical and academic support. She is very grateful to learn.

This 15-year-old boy, a son of a single mother who remarried and had a boy when he was 3 years. His mother died when he was 10 years of age, an experience that was framed with family difficulties. At the age of 11, he had the opportunity to prove himself academically in a school that recognized his abilities, nevertheless, the emotional consequences of his childhood experience surfaced. He is benefiting from psychological services, the opportunity to participate in environmental activities, be part of the musical group where he is finding that he is loved and that he matters.

A Young man who has been part of the program, went from wanting to feel bad about himself and wished he plays the trumpet, to a paid member of an International musical group, who graduated, walks proud as he is able to make a living for himself. When he entered the program, he was in need of opportunities, was motivated in receiving support to reach opportunities in life, and he overcame his difficulties. He has overcome poverty.

Panorama Sostenible Report November 17

We are happy to share that we continue with our activities programed for the semester, in all areas:

Circular Planetorganized an environmental workshop on Climate Change with a recognized climatic expert Alejandro Mejia! He shared information about the secondary side effects such as melting glaciers, more severe rain storms, or more frequent droughts. Both parents and children demonstrated great curiosity as well as interest.

Recycling Bins We installed at the entrance 3 Bins to classify garbage and to motivate families to replicate it in their homes.

Environmental day where children and community members planted 100 corals, improving our environment. This act of environmental care shows that we can all protect our planet. Every tree planted, trash collected and effort to reduce resource consumption contributes to a sustainable future. Let's take care of our only Earth for future generations. The change begins with us! was the slogan.

Sep 5, 2023 - Environmental talk Virtual conference to the community about the 3 R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).Concepts about 'climate change', global warming', 'greenhouse effect' were reviewed and the invitation was made once again to change daily and consumption habits as part of that fight for the THREE Rs, three actions that allow us to reduce our environmental impact, lead a more sustainable life, reduce the amount of waste we generate and make the most of our natural resources.

 Casa Culturalcontinued offering the activities:   Music classes Techno-academy activities, Chez classes on Saturdays and English classes several times during the week.

Music classes from Monday to Saturday,

Music presentation Aug 27, 23 - Don Bosco Bingo Presentation of the Youth Band of the Jaime García Cuellar SDB Symphony School in the San Juan Bosco parish, captivated the public. Parents and the community in general enjoyed the event.

Reading club Green Planet Promotes reading to improve spaces for coexistence and promote the development of citizen values: respect, leadership, honesty and care for the enironment.

Godparents Plan: It promoted solidarity, improved the lives of children and families, involved sponsors and demonstrated the impact of the program, provided nutrition of sponsored children18 students at the Salesiano San Medardo School3 students at the YES Institute so that the benefited students improved their level and replicate what they have learned with their classmates. 

Techno-academy Aimed at 10 students divided into 2 groups (8 to 10 years old and 11 to 13 years old). Provided a proposal for an environmental initiative, with learning activities related to science, technology and environmental education. Techno-academy – 9-Sep-23The teacher guided Students in the use of the Micro:bit, a soil moisture sensor, an RGB LED, a servo motor and connection cables. We programmed the Micro:bit to measure soil moisture and change the LED color based to tell us whether the plant needed to be watered or not. It was a fascinating lesson! Weekly learning and enjoyment experience.

Academic reinforcement: Aimed at students who voluntarily want to take it with the purpose of reinforcing respect for the environment, citizen values and basic sciences and languages (English and Spanish).Teachers according to the requirements of interested students.

 Chess: Met weekly and explore a playful space that discover thinking skills in addition to decision-making process.

Weaving Dreams:Group of 45 ladies dedicated to fabrics; 15 ladies who are being guided so that in addition to being a social gathering, they set minimum objectives that allow them to improve their quality of life and direct them to the search for new opportunities.

• Report with pictures (PDF)