CETAP-Lucy Child Sponsorship Program

As the school year comes to a close in Cuenca, we would like to provide you updates on CETAP-Lucy and what we have been up to! 

We are proud to report that all enrolled children passed their exams and are continuing to the next class level.

Four students have been admitted to the prestigious high school Colegio Tecnico Salesiano, which has high entry requirements.

During this year, Josue joined us. He is an autistic boy who is highly irritable and difficult to access. Thanks to the special needs education talents of Janeth Illescas he is now reading.

The presence and availability of our dedicated psychologist remains a blessing; he fulfills real needs. He evaluated nine children and helped nine families with therapy. When the father of three of our children recently committed suicide in his own home, the family could immediately enter counselling with him.

A cadre of ex-pat volunteers remains loyal and dedicated in helping the children with their English studies, and providing further ad-hoc support in many cases.

Thank you for your ongiong support of the Child Sponsorship Program which allows each child the opportunity to learn, grow, and develop into bright, shining individuals! 

In the first few months of 2018, CETAP Lucy has been making big strides in their work, serving youth in need through psychological, academic, and therapy services!

This quarter CETAP Lucy experienced many changes, and we would like to share them with you:

1. The students and their needs are changing. We now have a higher number of students with a variety of special needs that are being addressed. We are helping more students with autism, hyperactivity, ADD and low IQ and learning ability, and increasing visual impairment.
2. Some students are displaying emotional problems caused by family dysfunction.
3. In order to address these challenges that our students are facing, a number of psychological assessments are being carried out by our resident psychologist P. Pablo Tapia. Early this year, CETAP Lucy was able to obtain two sets of diagnostic assessment tools from the US, thanks to the support from a special donor. These tests allow us to provide a critical service to children in need. We are proud to be the only institution offering this service at an affordable cost for impoverished families. 
4. In order to address the outcomes from these assessments, changes in staffing have been made. We now have extra support from a mathematics teacher and special needs teaching in the fields of autism, hyperactivity, ADD and speech therapy.
5. As students are approaching the transition to high school they are being coached and prepared for taking the required admission test.

Aside from serving the children, CETAP Lucy is also working hard as a member of Hearts of Gold's Community Assistance Program. So far in 2018, CETAP's leaders and staff have participated in educational workshops in Volunteer Management and Leadership & Communication, as well as private mentoring hours, nonprofit networking events, and dialogue circles in topics such as self esteem and self love. As a sponsored member of this program, CETAP Lucy is able to develop its abilities to lead and strengthen its institution. 

Addressing all these needs and changes cannot happen without the support of donors and donor organizations such as GlobalGiving, whose support is graciously acknowledged.

We thank you for your generosity which allows our service to the community to continue.