Empower Youth Transition from Orphanage to Society

When we started introducing ourselves, there was 30 young faces looking at us, some with confusion, some with empty gaze, others with interest and hope. By the time we got to explaining what the organisation does, we saw more and more faces light up and in the end when we shared our goals they started to share their dreams...future psychologist, engineers, a singer, a nurse, designers, architects, etc. The ones that didn't know what they want, also had an expression of hope which gave us more motivation to start the program expansion.

18th of may we officially inaugurated our new chapter in the city Penonome, region Coclé which is located 2,5h from Panama CIty. This is our first “outside” the city orphanage. After an extent assessment center, interviews with the psychologist and the program coordinator, we have chosen 30 participants that will participante in our regular 2 year program and will be guided by our team of 4 people.

Our target is that 80% of the participants graduates from the full program and achieves a successful transition. So the question is what is a successful transition? 

To sum up the experience of working with adolescentes from different environments, what we have concluded is that the base is the same: guidance, opportunity to know what is out there - their possibilities and a plan how to do it. 

We are aware of the challenges that lye a head, such as learning how the institution works, distance from the main office, different culture, mindset, different opportunities…but as they say, we cannot be limited by our challenges but rather challenge our limits. 

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

This year our activities started in February and we have more than 30 participants. During next month our activities are focused on getting to know them and especially get to know their potential. In order to give them the best chance to fulfil that potential, we have to strengthen and expand our psychological department, which will be one of the main challenges and focuses for 2019.

Apart from that, we are continuing our expansion to other institutions and possibly regions in Panama.

Each year we are growing a bigger community of our ex graduates who are willing to stay part of the organisation and helping others, which is one the most exciting activities we have; alumni program and inclusion.

As one of the biggest challenges that our participants face; employment and economic independence, we have decided to "invest" more time in subjects such as giving them tools to find a job, preparation for interviews and to close the cycle, how to thrive in working environment.

And last but not the least, as we promised in our last report, we can proudly say that our graduation and theatre play, made for the first time on a real scene was absolutely the best decision we could have made. Our participants shined and thrived with self-esteem after conquering their fear of stage, talking in front of people and preforming so it is one of the good practices we will continue.

Your TaV team

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