VIDA, an ASOPAF program to improve student citizenship, is taught by Elementary School parents in The Columbus School several time each bimester.

ASOPAF parents visit elementary school classrooms and organize activities to teach students Character Count values.

“This is an educational program to develop character formation in our children and their peers. The goal is to contribute to the values that are at home and reinforced at school,” Patricia Sucercia, Director of ASOPAF, said.

VIDA is a program from the United States to aid parents and their children discuss character values more easily and effectively.

“This program was brought from the US and is connected to Character Counts. It is based on a manual of VIDA aligned with Character Counts,” Sucercia said.

An important part of this project is to include parents in children’s learning of values. This creates a closer connection and relationship between them and their parents, since kids behave better with their parents.

“I like to participate in school and VIDA is an opportunity to share not only with my children but with their peers and friends. For me values are fundamental pillars that I want to instill in my children and VIDA has allowed me to be part of his teaching,” Juana Rubio, 2nd grade parent, said.

Character Counts includes the carousel of character, animals that represent each of the six pillars: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.  VIDA incorporates these same values into its program.

According to Lesson 1 of VIDA “Kids on school need the need to understand and know the six pillars (Core Values) by hard.” 

VIDA uses a bear called Armonia, harmony, to symbolize positive characteristics that teach children how to behave and socialize with others.

According to the VIDA manual, “The bear Armonia represents several meanings. We use it to say we work together in harmony, ‘have harmony with’ or ‘living in perfect harmony’ can mean Friendships, and Union Agreement,”

The Columbus School believes that parents and teachers should work together to help students learn and this project has been a great step forward to achieve this goal. Teachers observing the interactions between parents and students are impressed with the results. 

According to the Josephson Institute, 2010, “Good character does not arise by chance and is too important to leave to chance. This one should teach children and model their teachers, parents and peers.”