August 2011: A New Program and more Palta

Liga de Deportes is always a blast. Whether we're playing soccer, dancing or stretching over a game of Twister, we know the kids are out there getting exercise and having fun. But lately, something had been nagging at us. Maybe it was the sugary treats in the goody bags, but our question was, Why not make Liga even healthier?

That's why in July you might have seen avocado or in Spanish palta sandwiches, hard-boiled eggs and lots of nuts and raisins on our snack table. While Liga snacks were far from the Super8 (a typical Chilean candy) that our kids normally enjoy, we knew we could do better.

What were the results? Kids crammed at the snack table, happily eating those green palta sandwiches and tasting the new fruits and vegetables we brought. And then we felt better, not because we skipped that sugary cereal bar (although we're sure it helped), but because improving our programs for the kids is what we do.

Volunteer Spotlight: Nicole Potempa

 

This summer, Nicole Potempa worked as a consultant with VE Global to design a nutrition, physical activity, and mental wellness curriculum for children. The curriculum will act in conjunction with our Liga de Deportes program to teach children about healthy eating and exercise habits as well as promoting self-esteem, communication, and accepting themselves and others. To read Nicole's post about her first Liga, click here.

Science and The United Way

 

Recently, The United Way awarded us with the opportunity to take on a science program called Ciencia al alcance de todos, or Science at Everyone's Reach! Given our five plus years of program experience and the great work our volunteers do every day, the United Way asked us to run this new program with a school in La Granja.

 

While it won't become a VE core program just yet, we're excited to work with a new school and break out our science chops. Lily Gordon will be coordinating the program with the help of the rest of the VE Global team.

Big thanks to all involved helping us get this off the ground!

 

Un Abrazo,

Josh Pilz
Executive Director