San Juan, June 8, 2019 – Integrated services center Vimenti by Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico celebrated its grade promotion for the students attending the island’s first charter school, as well as the transformation of their families during the school’s first year of service at the Ernesto Ramos Antonini housing project community in San Juan. On Promotion Day, students were honored for their academic performance and their families were acknowledged for their achievements, thus getting the opportunity to obtain financial security.
“Today we celebrate a very special day in which we acknowledge our students for their academic performance and transformation during our center’s first year,” said Bárbara Rivera Batista, director of Vimenti. “We have also recognized 56 families that have worked very hard to reach their goals,” she explained.
Using the transformation theme, the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music in Santurce was the stage for the Promotion Day celebration for students and their families. The 57 students delighted their parents and guests with dance, singing and declamation performances with the support of their teachers. The event kicked off with a ballet number performed by Ballets de San Juan that depicted the metamorphosis and transformation of a butterfly, a theme that permeated the entire event, with the participants’ success stories. Rebecca Carlos, Vimenti School’s principal, and student Daniela Díaz were the ceremony’s emcees. The families were also acknowledged for their commitment in their development and that of their children, thus concluding Vimenti School’s first year.
Vimenti’s program offerings use the two-generation model, which works with boys and girls along with their families to provide them with the opportunity to obtain financial security and achieve the center’s mission: to eradicate child poverty in the country. Vimenti’s programs touch three essential areas: social, economic and educational development. It also provides community participants with afterschool services. Vimenti School operates under the educational area as Puerto Rico’s first charter school, which promoted 57 kinder and first grade students today. The economic development area offers educational programs aimed at entrepreneurship skills development. The employability program for adults prepares them to enter jobs in the hospitality and customer service industries.
“The transformation that these families and their children have experienced this year responds to the integration of the two-generation model that we use in our center. Social workers from the social development area are always present, providing support and tools so they can achieve their goals,” explained Rivera Batista.
At the end of the 2018/19 school year, the center, the center diminished the number of unemployed parents from 42 percent to 16 percent of its enrollment. A total of 64 adults participated in the center’s employability program. Likewise, the center also shrank the percentage of vulnerable families from 36 percent to 5 percent. These are defined as families with intrafamilial situations who live in a poverty level that keeps them from having physical and emotional security.
“There are always challenges that move us to continue evaluating things so we can focus on continuous improvement to provide our children, their families and the community with better services. At Vimenti, we have an excellent team of professionals and thanks to their work, we are having this significant celebration today,” added Rivera Batista.
For more information on Vimenti and its programs, visit Vimenti’s social media under Vimenti Puerto Rico or call 787-772-4729.
About Vimenti by Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico:
Vimenti is an integral services center for the entire family, which runs projects in the educational, social and economic areas. It was created by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico as a service model in two generations to provide development opportunities and economic security to boys, girls, youths and adults, along with their parents. Located at the Ernesto Ramos Antonini housing project in San Juan, Vimenti actually runs the first charter school in Puerto Rico, has an after-school program for children and youths and has an employment development program for youths and adults focusing on hospitality, customer service and entrepreneurship.
Vimenti School Services
- Bilingual education
- Nurse services
- Small groups 17:2 Student-teacher ratio
- integrated services for the entire family
- Music program
- Expanded academic support services – After school
- Family breakfast
- Lunch & dinner (after school)
- Individualized plans for students
- Summer after school program (for students who are behind in their studies)
- Education Teachers
- Educational Program – After school
- Tutorials
- Art
- STEM (Sciences, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics)
- Recreational activities
- Dinner
- Post-secondary support program
Social Area services
- Case managers
- Development and leadership programs
- Individualized plans for families
- Health services
Services/Programs Economic development
- Entrepreneurial programs for boys, girls and youth.
- Job training program
- Conversational English
- Computer programs and certifications
- Financial workshops
- Resume writing support
- Job interview preparation
Community impact
- 312- after school program participants (5 a 21 años)
- Over 500 adults served through community impact