Programmes : Community Kids Clubs
Chidongongos
NLM ´s Community Kids Club “Chidongongo” commenced in 2011, in six Coloniasin Puerto Vallarta. Working in the community with the local government “Delegado of Pitillal” and the Community Leader/President of each Colonia (district), NLM sponsors clubs aimed at “working kids” and “kids at risk” living in deprived areas, both boys and girls, aged 9 to 12 years old, (Primary School grades 3 to 6). It is children of this age that are at most risk of becoming involved with gangs and related street activity. Each club has a maximum number of 50 members, totalling 300 children in the programme.
The clubs aim to provide the opportunity for children to have fun in addition to helping them develop their full potential through positive social, emotional, physical and intellectual experiences. By providing a stable, secure and relaxed club children can come and “escape” from the daily hardships of living in extreme deprivation and violence. Each club meeting will address a different topic such as the importance of morals and values or Bullying and Self Esteem and will include worksheets and homework for the children as well as providing craft and sports activities.
Representatives of both the Delegado and the Community Leader/President of the Colonia are present at each club meeting to ensure that any local “disputes” are resolved, allowing the NLM educator to run the Clubs more effectively. NLM has contracted a Club Manager and two Educators to run and manage the clubs, all of whom are highly experienced and skilled in relevant and specialist areas. The following have been identified as themes to be discussed and explored at the clubs:
- Nutrition & Eating Habits
- Relationships Friends/Family/Morals & Values
- Creative Writing & Storytelling
- Recycling
- Child Rights & Children’s Day
- Sports/Games/Olympics
- Safety – Fireman & Ambulance /Paramedics
- Health & Body Hygiene
- Plants, Trees & Flowers / Botanical Gardens
- Ocean Life
- Death, Funerals & Day of The Dead
- Mexican Traditions
- Story Telling
- Parent Jobs /Roles within the Family
Basketball
Basketball schools are now running in 5 colonias (districts) with a total of over 300 children. On Tuesdays and Thursdays the children meet for 2 hours training with contracted specialist trainers. In addition to 2 hours sport the children also learn many skills such as working in teams, co-ordination, respect for peers etc.
The basketball schools are operating in the colonias of Salitrillo, St Nicolas, Joyas de Pedegral, Coapinole and Lomas de Coapinole.
The current programme will finish with an inter-colonia tournament in May 2012.