Helping Kids Minds and Hearts

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

My Students

I daily encourage the students who are doing well, and also work with kids who have their heads down, are in tears or being aggressive. My main challenge: they need guidance, but they are rebellious, question and are distracted. The impact of your support will be noticed in personal and school success.

As counselor I serve 400 students.

I work with many at-risk, low income children and families with significant trauma. Some parents are imprisoned, addicted or absent. To help them achieve in healthy ways, I try to teach them how to live well together, understand social codes, and to develop positive life plans. I have observed that attractive constructive materials help me to engage them in difficult work, whether they act out or do not show their emotional problems at school. The materials that I am requesting, such as therapeutic board games, books, reflection cards, and lesson manuals, help me to engage the students in positive personal, social and career related growth. Your financial support will help me to promote positive skill development and self-respect for many at-risk students I see in my practice in school.

My Project

I have many different support groups that meet once a week for an hour. Depending on the student’s needs, we work on social skills, self-esteem, study skills, drug prevention, violence prevention, healthy social integration and future planning. In a playful way, the materials enhance the activities which make an important difference in students' lives. As I mentioned, I need materials to help motivate school children and keep them engaged in difficult work. My request for materials mentioned above are to help me as a counselor to facilitate respect, safety, anger management, social skills, friendship, and healthy-self concepts. The materials I am requesting will be reused over and over with many students and families. I wear several hats in the school and need handy tools to efficiently and effectively work within strict and limited time frames.

Sometimes our children believe there is no hope, that they are bound to have a negative life.

My job is to convince them that they can achieve better, despite their past, family or social background. I help them dream of a happier, rewarding, successful life. Funds are earmarked mostly academic, not on self-esteem, social integration, prevention of addictions, or violence. They are important for the students, family and community. Our children and families are infinitely grateful for your support.