We are proud to announce that Chica Brava will be collaborating with Escuela Adelante (Check out their website) on a unique and amazing opportunity for young women from San Juan del Sur. This amazing opportunity is a community outreach program for young women called ‘Chicas Adelante’. The ladies of Escuela Adelante; Carrie Valladares, Owner/Operator, Jaime Hunter, Co-Founder/Director, and Carolyn Noyes, Program Manager, and all of the ladies of Chica Brava will be meeting one Saturday a month with these amazing young women. The program will be based around empowering women from all walks of life, and will have a ‘big sister, little sister’ theme. Each Saturday a different activity will be presented such as, surf camp, cooking, nutrition, creative writing, etc to empower our local chicas.
The young ladies are between the ages of nine and twelve years old, and are all successful in and out of school. Each young women has been hand picked by their professors Jaime Hunter and Carolyn Noyes to attend the program.
As Jaime Hunter, the Co-Founder/Director of Escuela Adelante, stated: “I think that this program is extremely valuable to instill a sense of solidarity and sisterhood across languages, cultures and countries. We are so pleased to be working with Chica Brava and continue in the path of their other work with Camp Bella and Agarrala. We are bringing a new program to town that is sure to strengthen these young girls for the positive futures that lie ahead. Through creative writing, sports, art, health and nutrition, we will work towards instilling qualities of self-worth and empowerment.”
This past Saturday was out first meeting! We all met at the library in town, the location of Escuela Adelante, at nine in the morning. We had nine chicas participate with smiles on their faces. The day started with a quick ice breaker and introduction, of two truths and a dream. What an awesome way to meet the young ladies! After our game everyone received a diary, that we decorated with pictures from surf magazines. During our art session we played music, sang, and danced. The room was filled with creativity, positivity, and a feeling of friendship.
As the two hours came to an end, we reconvened back into our circle and discussed the afternoon. The girls were asked their favorite part of the day and what they would like to do in the future. We all agreed unanimously, volleyball will be included in the next get together!
All in all the day could not have gone any smoother or turned out any better. Thank you to Chica Brava and Escuela Adelante for allowing this amazing opportunity to unfold! We are very excited to be working with such an amazing program and look forward to our future endeavors together!
Sarah Proffitt-Espinoza
Surf Instructora Extraordinaire
Chicas Adelante April 18, 2015
