Since the pandemic made our visits to the youth homes impossible, we adapted to the new reality by listening to the needs that were within reach. When a door closes, a window opens… so we seized the opportunity to share our program with neighborhood youth in alternatives to jail. The need is so great! There are so many youth to support…so many unbelievable situations. The local government personnel welcomed us with gratitude and kindness because they don’t know how to stop this relentless delinquency.
From the first meeting, the team had to adapt. Training on emotion management, anger management, etc. had to wait, as well as preparation for any job interview, because of the reality in front of us; some of them needed to know how to read “mami, lumpia, lugaw”, others needed to know how to add, subtract, divide, and to be able to speak basic English at their request. So, while those lucky enough to have had a few years of schooling went ahead with our team, I sat with my two young guys.