Celebrating "Kindness"

When I taught in the St. Michael Albertville School District, we used a program called CHARACTER COUNTS! to foster a postive learning environment and to challenge our students to be people of integrity.  Last year I discovered that there are some materials available for this program in spanish.  The program in spanish is called "Tus Valores Cuenten." 

This month, I worked with the teachers to introduce the six pillars of character in each of our library project sites:  Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship.  We took two days to introduce the program and then spent the rest of the month focusing on the value of KINDNESS or "bondad."  

The leaders did a great job.  The students and community loved it, and we're all looking forward to making this Character Education component a regular part of our program.   

The pictures below are from the community celebration we had at the end of the month.  Parents, neighbors, friends and community members were invited to celebrate with us. 

The week before students painted beautiful banners of pictures related to kindness, and our leaders did a great job decorating to make the day "extra" special. 

These are the "Kindness journals" the students created this month.  Each week drawing pictures and recording their experiences practicing kindness with their family, friends, community members and with people they do not know.

During the celebration in Batey Prudencio, the students performed a skit demonstrating what they learned about being kind to people we don't know using the story of the Good Samaritan.

This is where the Good Samaritan carried the man who had been attacked on his donkey.

Some of the students shared songs and dances they had prepared.

This is what I saw when I arrived. 
The teachers preparing the community members looking on eagerly and curiously. 

It was a special day and a real treat to have family and friends celebrating with us. 

These are some of the young men from the community who are attending
our new English/Discipleship classes for teenagers.  We were glad to see them at our celebratin as well. 

 

Students, teachers and family members from Batey Prudencio. 

"The boys" from Batey la Mina, KM 16.

The teachers from Batey Prudencio. 

I have to say it one more time:  I AM SO PROUD OF THESE TEACHERS!  They continually suprise me and exceed my expectations in the work they do.  They have dedicated themselves to this project now for a full year.  They have demonstrated that they are reliable and responsible, and that they will continue to perform with excellence giving their best every time.  I'm excited to walk along side of them as we take this "project" to the next level.      

What a good-looking group!  :) 

We are going to stop giving classes for about six weeks. 

We need to work on fundraising and finding new classroom materials before we can start again this fall. 

If you'd like to invest in this program, you can donate at www.igo-worldwide.org/ministries/emmanuel. 

All donations are tax-deductible. 

Thank you for investing in the development of children and youth living in poverty.