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After school Guidance Program ‘Embrace’

Embrace is a unique program which started in March 2007. As described on our homepage, there are many children on Curacao who lack the needed care and attention from their parents or caregivers. In the afternoon hours, these children roam around the streets or are home alone. Embrace attempts to impact the lives of these children.

Special attention

Children up to the age of 12 are welcome in the afternoon hours. The children receive assistance with their homework, are educated through games and sports, and activities to promote relaxation and creativity are also provided. The goal is to further develop the children's skills, increase their knowledge and discover what their interests and passions are. Special attention is given to the social and emotional development. We try to give the children as much individual attention as possible, and for this purpose the group is no larger than 10 children with enough professionals present.

More than a daycare

We attempt to provide guidance to the children at Embrace, and therefore we are more than a daycare or regular after school program. The program tries to address the entire family unit. Multiple children from the same family are taken in and there is frequent contact with the parent or caregiver, if needed and wanted. In collaboration with the Food bank, the families are able to receive food. In addition to this physical aid we provide immaterial aid as well in the form of guidance and assistance with the raising of and care for the children.

Contact with the schools

In addition to the family, the school is another important system in the life of a child. There is frequent contact with the school, and there is constant feedback to and from the school. Regularly, meetings are held with the children's teachers in order to discuss the child's development and behavior.
Additionally, schools in our neighborhood refer children to the program, when they see a regression in a child's behavior or grades, or if the notice that a particular child is missing a lot of school. Embrace will guide these children and stimulate their development as described in the section Mission and Vision, so that their behavior and performance will improve.