Redefining Community Development in Puerto Rico

In southeastern Puerto Rico Hurricane Fiona brought harsh winds, severe flood producing rains, and further debilitated an already extremely fragile electric grid. Immediately after Fiona continued to the Dominican Republic, P.E.C.E.S., Inc. (with a strong sense of deja vu -- ex. Hurricane Maria) reactivated our Community Sustainability Center  to immediately respond to the needs of the communities in the municipalities of Humacao, Naguabo. Yabucoa, Maunabo and Las Piedras.  Although Fionas most extreme damage was to southwestern Puerto Rico, nevertheless the southeastern coast had much flooding and lost electricity for an average of between two weeks to a month. Some isolated areas still remain without electricity. People without generators or solar energy lost the food they had reserved.  The lack of electricity created a need for solar lighting. The days and nights were very grim, post-traumatic stress disorder from Hurricane Maria was evident in many residents. 

With the help of our staff, students, and participants; it was possible to distribute 200 hot foods for 7 consecutive days as well as solar lamps to many communities. Over 150 vouchers have been / are being distributed to families in greatest need and 1,925 bags of ice were distributed in Naguabo and Maunabo. We are currently finalizing the process of planning and coordinating massive activities that will include legal services, vaccinations, therapeutic massages for the elderly, delivery of supplies and emotional support. The center will soon be delivering 480 solar lamps to the municipality of Lajas, who have a serious lack of electricity still and no one has been able to help them after the emergency.

In summary we have impacted 10 cities including over 50 communities. Over 1600 families/homes have been impacted to date.  Almost 4000 different supplies have been distributed to date and many more in the near future.  Your help is making this possible and we are so very grateful.

Finally and most importantly, our youth, our students, our participants (whose own lives were profoundly affected by Fiona) have been the protagonists of this relief effort.   Together  We Achieve More... Juntos Logramos más.  Thank you so very, very much.

Success will always be the sum of all the small efforts that are repeated every day and this is precisely how, with care and diverse strategies, we positively impact in the lives of our students. We work for an education that fosters leadership, autonomy, resilience and social development at the Escuela Superior Acreditada P.E.C.E.S. Our work is with high risk students from low income, underserved communities in southeastern Puerto Rico. 

This quarter, we dedicated ourselves to continuing to reaffirm not only the academic achievement of young people, but through a wide range of activities, we managed to successfully close this school year, also completing a very important chapter in the lives of students who today they direct their lives to the universe of adult life. The opportunities and learning of this school year have set a precedent like no other, demonstrating what human beings are capable of facing, even in the midst of adversity and a pandemic. Many challenges were overcome.

The people we serve, their families and for the entire faculty are committed to the comprehensive development of young people. The Honor Society included 68 students with outstanding academic averages. On June 2, 2022, the graduation ceremonies of the P.E.C.E.S. High School were celebrated in a big way, 70 students managed to reach the goal of obtaining their high school diploma. Of these students, 26 were part of the Honor Society, the graduating class had 37% of students with an academic index of excellence.

In addition to this great celebration, we live this day with much more enthusiasm, since the graduation celebrated commemorated the 30 years of service of our Alternative High School. It has been 30 years transforming LIVES and these graduate students join the group of 1,573 young people who have managed to complete their high school studies and achieve such an important goal in the trajectory of their lives and that of P.E.C.E.S., Inc. Mixed feelings, great emotions, but above all Everything showed that these young people, despite all the experiences during these years, demonstrated how strong they are and it is demonstrated once again that in the face of adversity, not letting themselves be defeated will lead them to achieve their future goals.

Links:

• We are P.E.C.E.S., Inc.