In Colombia a very special date is celebrated in the month of April: Children’s Day. And at Poder Joven we celebrate it with games, ludic activities, and lots of fun. In addition, through workshops and meetings, we reflect with the children about the different actors in society: families, government, and citizens at large. These activities help us promote the principle of co-responsibility, reminding us that we are all called to promote the rights of children and take actions that benefit their welfare.
In the month of March, we held a very special workshop with the teenagers of the foundation. In this event, we help them become aware of the great potential they have to be successful. We motivate them so that they can see all the positive aspects that they have in their various personalities; and we invite them to think about the need to take charge of their own lives. Our purpose is always to help them develop all the necessary physical, intellectual and spiritual tools to overcome all the obstacles they will have to face at each stage of life.
So far this year, we have received the support of more than 20 volunteers who, on their own initiative, have brought various recreational activities, sports, and educational outings to the foundation for the benefit of the children we serve. It is truly wonderful to receive all the solidarity and affection from so many people who freely and spontaneously break away from their daily routines to provide moments of joy and happiness.
During the month of May we held a workshop for teenagers called “Visualizing our future.” The objective of this activity was to help the children understand the importance of setting relevant goals in life, and then create a plan of specific actions/decisions they must carry out daily towards that goal. Furthermore, we invited the kids to become aware of unhelpful habits that could divert them from their plans.
In our efforts to offer meaningful activities to the children, we created an alliance with one of the main public libraries in the city of Medellín. Through it, children learn science in many fun ways. Children get access to computers, watch documentaries, play games that stimulate their creativity and intelligence. Through activities like this, we make sure that Poder Joven is more attractive to the children than the “the street activities” which they are exposed to such as begging, crime, sexual exploitation, and drug consumption.