Daughters of Wisdom Award $2,750 Grant to Martin De Porres School for Exceptional Children

The grant to Martin de Porres School is being utilized to support the high school’s Girls Group for young women ages 13-21 who have suffered severe emotional trauma. This group meets regularly to provide activities that boost self-esteem and confidence. "Our students really benefit from confidence-building and empowerment skills, so the grant is really being put to good use for this. It's benefitting a really vulnerable population, because they are victims of trauma," said Nelson Tung, Chief of Clinical Operations.

For example, the Girls Group has an annual tea party. Tea party snacks are purchased, and the students get dressed up, which is a great confidence booster. "It really is a confidence builder for kids who are in need," added Nelson.

Thea Alleyne-Murray, Family Engagement Coordinator for Martin de Porres School, noted that that the girls group encourages self-care, with the vision that all girls and women experience equality, independence, and safety in their everyday lives. “Our goal is to prepare the young women with the skills to take action and ownership in their lives,” she writes in a description of the program. “We want to give our teens the opportunity to express themselves, and for them to know that the sky is the limit for each of them.”

In addition to meeting weekly, the Girls Group offers monthly workshops for the young women. The series of workshops focuses on self-awareness, including nurturing your social support system, honoring your emotional needs, managing stress, loving yourself, and creating a self-care plan. Workshops have included Paint & Chat, Vision Boards, Breast Cancer Awareness, Valentine’s Day luncheon, and Annual Tea Party.

The Martin de Porres School was founded in 1972. The Elementary/Junior High School provides an educational program that, along with academics, has a highly structured and supportive behavioral management program. Besides its dedicated administrators, the MDP Elementary/Junior High School has a dedicated staff of experienced and enthusiastic teachers, assistant teachers, social workers, guidance counselors and occupational/physical therapists. They provide every student with the opportunity to grow and develop to their fullest. For 42 years, MDP Elementary/Junior High School has helped students to thrive and ultimately graduate and attend high school, either at Martin De Porres or returning to a public school.

Workshops offered by the Girls Club at Martin de Porres School encourage self-care.