Current Family

Currently serving 13 teens and 7 young women

About the Program

How exactly does one determine when a child is ready to face the world one their own? By their age? Their world experience? Their intelligence? Their maturity? And what becomes of the children who are deemed suitable for full dependence, when in fact they themselves don’t feel that they are prepared to live their lives on their own?

As most parents, we have watched our teens grow up with a mixture of pride and nervousness. Unlike most Bolivian children, however, our kids have grown up with a giant question mark gradually approaching along the horizon, uncertain of what will come next.

Why?

Throughout Bolivia, it is the norm for teens to continue to live with their parents, through their college years, often right up until they are ready to marry. This provides them with a constant support structure and a stable living situation, while greatly alleviating the financial burden of finding a place to live and paying for tuition, all during what is perhaps the most challenging time of their lives.
What about a child who has grown up as a part of the NCV family?

  • She does not have a family capable of providing her with a place to live, nor help with tuition fees.
  • He arrived at our home behind in his studies, often several grades, and even at 18 may still have 1-3 years left of high school to complete.
  • While she has been taught how to cook, clean, and care for herself in general, she has always had the support of several caregivers, a psychologist, social worker, not to mention 36 other children.
  • Past events have impacted his self-confidence, and despite the major steps he has taken over the past several years, he is uncertain that he will be able to make it on his own.

That is why Niños con Valor, as this child’s family, will continue to support each teenl until she or he feels ready to make a successful transition into adulthood. Our continued support will be delivered via four different phases.

The first phase takes place over four years, for our 12-15 year old children, and serves to prepare them for independence. This includes a series of life-skills trainings, job opportunities, a “big sister/brother” mentor program, and volunteer experience.

The second phase is for our 16-17 year old teens, to prepare them from when they turn 18 and legally must leave the comforts and support structure avaialbe to them in the residential homes. For their final two years in the residential program, they are able to live in a pre-transition apartment, where they take on greater responsibility and live with increased independence.

The third phase consists of a transitional home and educational scholarship. Young adults follow a plan that begins with a year curriculum focusing on developing key life skills, and follows with two years of increasing independence in their post-secondary formation and professional development. Each participant is required to cover an gradually increasing percentage of her costs to help prepare her for the real costs of living independently.

The fourth and final phase takes place when a young adult has lived in the transition home for 3 years. At this point, they move out on their own (often with another young adult from the program), continuing to receive financial and emotional support, but now with near 100% responsibility for managing her day-to-day living situations.

This process is led by our Youth Guide, whose primary role is accompanying our teens on this exciting and challenging journey.

Help us transform our teens into the new faces of independence! To learn more about how you can help, please write us at info@ninosconvalor.org.

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