The Real Impact of Your Support: David's Story

As we approach the end of our first year here in Eastern Idaho, our team is reflecting on the impact our young program is already making in our community thanks to your support. Impact like the positive changes in David’s* family since he started working with Eduardo, one of our highly trained, compassionate, professional mentors.

David is an engaging, persistent first grader with enough energy to power the planet. Two years ago, he lost his father in a tragic accident. As a result, David’s academic readiness has been behind that of children who have not been affected by similar experiences. David became distractable and resistant to completing his schoolwork in the classroom and at home.

By consistently working with, supporting, and motivating David at school, Eduardo was able to refocus David’s efforts on completing classwork with the promise of fun games at recess. By building this foundation and consistently helping David find his focus, Eduardo earned the trust of David’s mother. When she approached him with her concerns about David’s apparent unwillingness to do his homework, Eduardo listened with compassion and discussed options with her. During their conversation, David’s mother and Eduardo realized that David’s apparent defiance was, at its core, a need for him to burn off excess energy after a long day of sitting. Eduardo helped David’s mother develop a solution: allow David to ride his bike for 30 minutes first, and then do his homework. Eduardo advocated for David, who has since been successfully navigating the often-difficult transition between playtime and homework time.

Thinking ahead, Eduardo also took the initiative to teach David’s older brother how to repair a bike tire. David’s older brother watched and listened attentively as Eduardo demonstrated how to use a repair kit to fix a flat, so his brother’s bike-riding time won’t be derailed for too long even when he rides through the prickers at the edge of the path again. In the process, David’s brother gained a new-found skill and confidence. He has a sense of competence and responsibility that goes beyond just the ability to fix a bike tire.

Eduardo’s efforts sparked a sense of hope and resilience in David and his family. By having access to Eduardo’s consistent, judgement-free, compassionate support, David, his brother, and his mother have been supported in navigating a profound loss and are reaching a little more peace and stability as a family unit. Eduardo’s actions are helping to build up the protective factors that can reduce the long-term effects of childhood trauma.

Here in Eastern Idaho and across the 40+ locations in our Friends of the Children national network, we believe in the power of long-term, one-on-one professional mentorship to transform lives. With consistent support, children like David can discover their strengths, build self-confidence, and imagine a bright future for themselves and their families. That is how we break cycles of generational poverty and trauma. And that is how you can help!

Financial donations from community members like you contribute directly to breaking that cycle and empower young people like David to pursue their dreams. And you don’t have to take our word for it, only one year into our work here in Eastern Idaho. Of the youth who have graduated from the program in the 30 years of Friends of the Children:

• 92% enroll in post-secondary education, serve our country, or enter the workforce with a living-wage job.

• 93% remain free from involvement in the juvenile justice system.

• 98% wait to parent until after their teen years.

With your help, we can support children like David over the next 12+ years of their lives, no matter what. We can support them as they reach for their potential, dream big dreams, and transform their lives and our communities. Thank you for believing in these young people, and for supporting Friends of the Children – Eastern Idaho today.

*Youth’s name changed to protect privacy.