It was 2010, and Matt and Julie Cooper, long-time friends and staff members, joined us in Cancun to explore the possibility of a new site. We had some appointments to see children’s homes and were all praying God would make it clear where He wanted our next investment. We visited an all-girl’s children’s home and realized all four of us in one office might be intimidating, so we split up; Matt and Todd sat with the director while Julie and I went to the playground to be with the children.  Four-year-old twins, Sara* and Christina* sidled beside me and began braiding my hair. They were mak ..read more

Haiti and her people continue to persevere despite ongoing turmoil across the country. Back2Back staff eagerly pursue special activities or moments to hold space for the children and families they serve. Morale can get low as changes are processed, and staff want to remind them there is still joy to be found.  One partnering children’s home in the area has relocated multiple times in response to nearby insecurities. This has been an emotionally charged time, impacting moods and focus with each move; the home’s director wanted to bolster their felt-safety and encourage joy seeking. &n ..read more

Dirt paths wind from nearby villages to an area surrounded by black rocks- a God-crafted jungle gym. Within those rocks sits an educational oasis providing comfort, access, safe adults, snacks, and support. Inside those walls a young girl’s future was reclaimed, restored, and renamed. “I was not good at many things,” she shared evenly. “I struggled to read, to speak English; really, I had no hope for my own future.” Amara* is the fourth child of nine and grew up in a village near the Education Center. The center, founded in 2011, provides holistic care to children through educational tutoring ..read more

Alan* is just one of many students attending a Back2Back-run, trauma-informed school on-site in Mexico. He was timid and withdrawn when he started attending due to a speech impediment. His interactions had been strictly with his family, as they were the only ones who understood him when he tried to talk. He kept to himself and gave answers as short as possible, often resorting to hand motions and nodding to communicate his needs. His education suffered, as he lacked the confidence to ask for help. As soon as Alan’s teachers understood the reason behind his behavior, they focused on building hi ..read more

Many students who attend one of Back2Back’s trauma-informed schools begin their educational careers speaking little to no English. Many of the rural villages from where the children and families live only speak one language and government-run schools do not use conversational English in their curriculum.   Zoya* is a young girl in the first grade. She and her family live in a nearby village, and this is her first experience in an English-medium school (one in which English is part of curriculum). She arrives at school each day eager to learn, despite her struggles with reading and wr ..read more

In a neighborhood about five miles from the Back2Back Cincinnati site, 25 children call an apartment building with a rundown playground home. Those children recently took part in social, emotional, and educational activities with Back2Back staff over the summer. Staff took effective and often used strategies, implemented them with the children there, and left an imprint.  Two days a week, staff showed up providing play with a purpose activities, reading groups, social and emotional connection groups, and a meal. Trauma-informed staff made space and time for vulnerable children, reminding ..read more

Back2Back’s Transition to Independence Program was designed to help students move from living in family-style care to living on their own. They are taught how to budget, how to grocery shop, how to cook for themselves, and managing their day-to-day schedules. Young adults take brave steps out on their own, and they’re never left without a safety net in place through the adults who come alongside them. Recently, a 22-year old young woman, who has lived much of her adolescence at a Back2Back-run children’s home alongside her brother and peers, began exploring independent living. Before making th ..read more

Cricket made its way to India in the 18th century by European merchant sailors, and has since become a beloved sport country-wide. Recently, a group of boys in the Strong Families program expressed interest in playing in a more organized manner. The community center where families attend lacks acreage and space; there are areas nearby available, but players are required to wear proper equipment and the boys didn’t have any.  “When the children started to really express interest in playing more regularly, I wanted to help make it happen; I wanted to honor them using their voices and asking ..read more

In the last month, local psychiatrist Dr. Carlos Garcia Espinoza has provided several trainings for around 55 people affiliated with Back2Back, including Strong Families parents, 12 Stones staff, and Rancho de los Niños children’s home staff. Dr. Garcia Espinoza is a medical professional and psychiatrist trained in several types of therapies; he came highly recommended to staff as he is well known throughout Mazatlán for his work. Over the course of three different sessions, staff and parents gained more clarity and understanding about mental health and the stigma attached to it. Dr. Garcia Es ..read more

In Hyderabad’s core, there is a community of families living in makeshift homes. Most of the parents are rag pickers, who separate thrown-out food and materials into groups and sell them for profit. Despite these living conditions, there is joy within the tarped walls and metal roofs. There in the middle of the slum community, a long standing organization serves as a refuge for families, offering daily hot meals and educational assistance. Founded in 2004 by Goldie and Kennedy, Back2Back began partnering with them in 2008.  “We were witness to countless young people struggling with hunger ..read more