"I learned that we have to manage our emotions; otherwise there comes a point when you can't take it anymore and you explode. I learned that we shouldn't criticize ourselves or pay attention to what people say, and that we must not hurt ourselves because we have to accept who we are. I also realized that some things we consider 'normal' are actually cases of abuse, and that it's important to plan for your future- before it's too late."

"In all the workshops I learned that if I'm upset or sad I have to know how to control it, I learned that if someone bribes you, you shouldn't accept it, I learned that if you want to achieve something you have to fight for it, I learned to calm down, I also learned that if you want to be someone you shouldn't let others ruin it for you..."; "I did very well with my psychologist and I enjoyed being with her, all these sessions were the best I've ever had in my entire life and thanks to her I have improved in many things..." and "I thought the Los Pisingos Foundation was very nice and I found it very calming, very peaceful, but what I liked the most was my psychologist, she is very pretty, kind, very tender, very calm and she likes her job."

A Pisingos speech language pathologist tells María's story. María's hemiparesis: weakness or lack of muscle control on one side of her body was diagnosed late; she only learned to walk at the age of five. In 2018, her parents had to suspend all therapy sessions because they were displaced by the armed conflict and moved to El Codito, one of Bogotá's most vulnerable neighbourhoods. After the pandemic, María enrolled in the "Oportunidad”, Opportunity program. The therapist recalls: "We received a delightful girl with a joyful spirit, eager to learn, yet showing marked difficulties in comprehension, verbal expression, writing and recognising her emotional states." María completed her cycle of Psychology, Speech Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy. Today she is motivated, self aware and able to recognise her achievements and strengths. Her family now understands the importance of therapeutic support; their accompaniment at home has been fundamental for developing new skills that foster school adaptation and family growth.