Mika, Alexia, and Alexander
At Superniños, one of our core values is simple: Be Yourself.
That may sound easy, but for many children it isn't. Some arrive carrying the effects of bullying, academic struggles, insecurity, or the feeling that they don't quite fit in. Over time, they learn to stay quiet, hide parts of themselves, or assume their voice doesn't matter.
One of the most meaningful parts of our work is watching that begin to change.
Mikaella, known to everyone as Mika, travels a long and sometimes difficult route each week from her community of Aguapety to participate in Superniños. The journey involves muddy roads, unpredictable transportation, and hours of travel. Yet she rarely misses a day. Her mother says that before joining the program, Mika struggled to make friends and was afraid to share her opinions. Today, she proudly talks about the children she teaches and the responsibilities she has as a Kid Teacher. The confidence was always there—it simply needed a place to grow.
Alexia's journey has been different. Years of bullying left her hesitant to trust new people and uncertain of her place among her peers. When she began teaching younger children, however, she experienced something powerful. The students she worked with didn't see her through the lens of the labels and criticism she had carried for years. They saw someone kind, creative, and capable. As her confidence grew, so did her determination to help others feel included. Today, she is one of the strongest advocates for making sure every child feels welcomed, accepted, and safe.
For Alexander, the challenge was language. Growing up in a Guaraní-speaking home, he often worried about saying the wrong thing in Spanish-dominant settings. Speaking up felt risky. Over time, he discovered that communication isn't about speaking perfectly—it's about connecting with others. The encouragement he received helped him find confidence in both his voice and his identity. Today, he encourages other students to value Guaraní and take pride in the culture and traditions they bring with them.
These stories look different on the surface, but they share a common thread. Each child was given a place where they felt accepted, encouraged, and trusted. In that environment, they began to discover strengths that had been there all along.
For us, "Be Yourself" isn't a slogan. It's the belief that every child has something valuable to contribute and that confidence grows when children are given the opportunity to learn, lead, and belong.
Every day, we watch young people discover who they are. And when they do, the impact reaches far beyond themselves—to their families, their schools, and their communities.
