Project Launch:

Chicos Poderosos (Powerful Children) is a program designed for boys and girls in the 5th and 6th grade as a way for them to express themselves in a safe environment. With a $496 grant from World Connect’s Kids to Kids Program, the program was run in Santa Elena, Costa Rica in 2010 and consisted of small group discussions where participating children were able to talk openly and honestly with other kids their age and supportive adults. The program gives children a way to express themselves through art and teaches about self-esteem, relationships, nutrition, and exercise and celebrates the achievements of participants at the end of the session with a small party and award ceremony. The children who participated learned the importance of making better life decisions, how to deal with peer pressure, and how to feel confident that they are doing the right thing. This setting also provided a space where participants could talk about changes they were going through in this stage of their lives without pressure and being worried about talking to their parents. The girls who participated in this session became increasingly aware of the importance of healthy eating and exercise while improving their self-esteem and communication skills and gave back to their community by painting a world map and a map of Costa Rica in the schoolyard. Everyone in the community loved the project and mothers of the children asked for a similar group that they could attend as well as one for the younger children in the community.