Fundacion Transicion a la Vida, a project led by CALI VI Fellow, Patricia Planells, held its first spiritual retreat earlier this month. The seven youngsters that formed the Pilot Plan came from the San Jose de Malambo orphanage in Panama. With support from the United Way Foundation and the generosity of several individuals, these youngsters obtained a full college scholarship, will receive the academic support they as well as the necessary tools to complete their studies and flourish as professionals. This activity marks the beginning of the transition process and the first steps of an initiative that will mark the lives of many.

Transicion a la Vida is an initiative designed to help youngsters from marginalized communities achieve a successful transition from school to society. The foundation helps thembridge their academic gaps and also provides the necessary tools for them to obtain a higher education and thus, successfully enter the labor market.

“It has been a wonderful experience for me,” says Patricia. “ I see optimism about the future in their faces and that gives me great satisfaction, but I’m also aware of the tough obstacles they will face in order to achieve their goals. We cannot avoid the fact that they might fall, we can’t walk for them, what we can do is give them all the necessary resources that will make their load more bearable. We can offer them guidance so that they take advantage of their experiences and we encourage them to strive to achieve their dreams. My dream is that in a few years, they will set the example to other generations. That this clay were helping to mold, will someday become agents of change in Central America, a region where it is much needed.”