What We Do
EDUCATION
Every evening, in the heart of downtown Guadalajara, CODENI works with street children offering formal and informal education projects. The program includes basic literacy classes, homework club, academic scholarships, workshops on children’s rights and responsibilities, arts and crafts, and life skills workshops.
These activities are led by CODENI’s staff of educators. In addition to running workshops and supervising activities, they are responsible for initiating and maintaining contact with teachers, schools and families, and making referrals to special educational programs.
SOCIAL SERVICES
CODENI offers psychological attention and one-on-one counseling to each child and his/her family. Sessions are scheduled with the children on a bi-monthly basis, along with home visits and needs assessments for the whole family. The time spent getting to know the children and their socio-psychological needs allows the staff to assess each individual case and, when necessary, make referrals to specialized services, including medical attention and legal aid. As CODENI focuses on the family unit as an integral part of improving the lives of each child, we hold monthly parent meetings to encourage direct participation from the parents and to update them on activities and events. Families who demonstrate strong participation and cooperation are compensated with monthly food baskets.
RECREATION
CODENI recognizes the need for street children to take a break from their responsibilities and have an outlet to release energy and socialize with their peers. The recreation program provides them with a time and place to enjoy being kids. Staff members organize games, group activities, and free time in a safe and fun environment.
In addition to the regularly scheduled activities, CODENI has two soccer teams that practice once a week and participate in league games with other youth agencies.
For those students in good standing, CODENI offers bimonthly field trips. Recent outings include roller skating, hiking, a day in the park, the fair, the movies, the zoo, and the waterpark.
STREET OUTREACH
CODENI’s team of educators reaches out to children working in the streets of Guadalajara, Mexico and seeks to establish relationships with them and their families. Educators visit impoverished neighborhoods on a weekly basis in order to invite children to join the program and to follow up with needy families who have expressed an interest in CODENI’s services. Establishing trusting relationships with these families allows us to evaluate and diagnose the realities that they face and to better determine the services they need. This initial work is carried out through relationship building, counseling, home visits, referrals, and follow ups.
SPECIAL WORKSHOPS
PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
In 2008 CODENI teamed up with Listen to My Pictures ™ (LTMP) to offer photography classes to 13 teens in the program. Aside from teaching the art of photography, the project enables participants to tell their stories and express themselves through their photos. All week students take pictures with digital cameras donated by LTMP, which they review as a class each Saturday morning. Every semester 10 to 15 new students from CODENI participate in the workshop run by professional photographer volunteers. Twice a year CODENI organizes public expositions of their work in a local museum. Check out the results on the Listen to My Pictures links on this page.
COMPUTER WORKSHOP
Thanks to several Rotary Clubs and the District of southwest Virginia, CODENI is now able to offer computer classes to beneficiaries. Classes are offered to different groups of kids, teens and parents on a daily basis, teaching Microsoft Office, e-mail and Internet research. Computer skills will bring many new employment and educational opportunities for CODENI participants. The new lab has open hours and quickly fills up by kids anxious to practice these newly learned skills and explore cyberspace.