Empower Youth Transition from Orphanage to Society

When stability becomes a habit, maturity and clarity follow.

B.K.S. Iyengar

As the 2020 has started, we have decided that this year’s focus is stability. Last two years we have been focused on integrating more institutions in our program and learning from the process. It is rewarding to see that the expansion to another region was successful but it is also eyes opening to understand all the challenges brought by distance and regional/country realities. This is why we decided to invest more time in thinking and strategic planning.

In the beginning of the year we are occupied with recruitment, workshop planning, assessments and just enjoying seeing new faces in our groups.

We have 58 participants coming from 10 institutions.  Some are orphanages, some shelter homes and other schools with high risk youth, so this year will be diverse.

As promised in the last report, we are sharing pictures from the theatre play that concluded the 2-year program for some participants and served as a motivation to new participants. The event helped us connect the old graduates that supported as volunteers and to involve all the members of the board of advisors.

That's all, folks!

Until May, warm regards

Your TaV team

Links:

• More pictures on instagram & facebook @transicionalavida

"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us."

Oprah Winfrey

There are still some big things ahead us, such as the end of year theatre play, graduation, planning, recruitment for the next year… but one of the biggest events we had had this year is behind us, participation in the show ”Heroes of Panama”. It is a project that seeks to pay tribute and support those Panamanians who work day by day making a difference. Heroes for Panama highlights extraordinary people who support various sectors of the country and for our founder, it was a great honour to participate.

We had the opportunity to present our work and raise awareness about the effects of institutionalisation and all the challenges that come with it, as well as the importance of educating at-risk youth so the society would be able to progress.

The next big thing for the organisation and for the participants will be the graduation and the play. For the end year play the participants prepared a musical called Panterita Mariposita,  based on real events. The story follows a little girl in the process of adoption and teaches us the value of love, companionship in difficult times and the secret of how not to give up. 

This year we had the wonderful experience to work with 51 participant. Each one of them with different story, different interest and different character. The majority of our participants are entering last year of high school but some of them are finishing 1st or 2nd year of university. We have future musicians, teachers, technicians, chemists and other careers…some technical, some bachelor, but the most important is that our participants understand the importance of education and it keeps them motivated.

Right now we are planning recruitment for 40 new participants so more information to come!

Your TaV Team

Links:

• More pictures on our instagram profile