Mateo Alvarez
Finding His Voice Again
Age 9, Colombia
Mateo became emotionally withdrawn after losing his older brother to violence in his community. Once an energetic and expressive child, he slowly stopped speaking in class, isolated himself from friends, and developed severe anxiety whenever he left home. His teachers believed he was simply shy, but Mateo was silently struggling with deep emotional trauma and fear.
His mother worked long hours and could not afford psychological care or specialized support. Without early intervention, Mateo’s emotional condition continued to worsen, affecting both his education and daily life.
Building Strength Through Support
Through The Zeus Foundation’s child focused therapeutic programs, Mateo was connected with trauma informed counseling, art therapy, and emotional support sessions designed specifically for children. In a safe and compassionate environment, he slowly began expressing his emotions through drawing, guided conversations, and therapeutic activities that helped rebuild trust and emotional security.
Today, Mateo is beginning to reconnect with the world around him. He smiles more often, participates in school again, and is learning that healing is possible even after profound loss.
