Fairhill: Alcohol Prevention Program Helps Neighborhood Children Cope

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For the past 25 years, Guadenzia Centro Primavera has been a staple of the Fairhill community and has helped shape the lives of countless children.

Located at 2751 North Fifth St., Guadenzia Centro Primavera is a drug and alcohol prevention education program for children ages 5 through 12. The program’s goal is to make children aware of the dangers of alcohol abuse.

Daily activities at the 12-week program begin after school. They include a homework period and an instructional session using the drug prevention curriculum. On arranged dates the children also participate in athletic activities and field trips to various locations in the Philadelphia area.

“We try to give the kids something that they never had before,” said Anita Stovall, a prevention specialist at the program. “We aspire to inspire.”

Guadenzia Centro Primavera also oversees the BABES program. BABES, Beginning Awareness Basic Education Studies, is a nationally recognized educational program that uses animal puppets along with storytelling to help school children cultivate positive living skills.

Margie Inostroza administers BABES for Guadenzia Centro Primavera. Inostroza presents the puppet presentation inside of the classroom and then holds a discussion with the children afterwards.

The schools that Inostroza teaches the program at include Potter-Thomas Promise Academy, Julio De Burgos Elementary, Fairhill Elementary and John Welsh Elementary.