For Save the Children it has always been a priority to listen to children and adolescents. We are interested in knowing what their interests, concerns and needs are because we want them to be an active part of the engine of our actions.
In the vacation period after the end of the school year, it is usual for us to carry out a summer course that helps to take care of and improve their physical, mental and social health through play. Our goal is for girls and boys to develop social skills that improve their confidence and channel their energy into positive activities; at the same time that we also learn from them and them.
However, since the pandemic began, we have had to adapt our strategies to continue enjoying their voices. We had to suspend most of our face-to-face activities to prevent the spread of the virus and thus “A Summer with Save the Children” was born, a distance summer course focused on showing healthy lifestyles that, through food, physical activities , hygiene and mental health promote well-being conditions and a healthy integral development.
We gave each participating girl and boy a booklet and a kit of materials so that they could carry out all the activities that we propose without any problem. For example, one of the days is focused on encouraging physical activity. We explain that staying active can contribute to the development of our mind, improve our concentration and increase our performance in the activities we do on a day-to-day basis. Later, we invite them to perform different dynamics with their families so that they have fun while being activated.
This course focused on Mexico City, as well as the states of Puebla and Yucatán. The best thing is that its implementation gave us the opportunity to be close to hundreds of girls and boys despite the distance.