Confident Life Program™

Introduction

The Confident Life Program™ is an award-winning curriculum designed to complement existing Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) programs for students in grades K-3.

Here are some key features of the program:

Social and Self-Awareness: Activities and lessons that help children understand their own emotions and recognize the emotions of others.
Self-Regulation: Techniques and practices for managing emotions and behaviors in various situations.
Relationship-Building: Exercises that promote effective communication, cooperation, and the development of positive relationships.
Responsible Decision-Making: Guidance on making ethical and constructive choices about personal and social behavior.

Interactive Activities: Engaging exercises that involve role-playing, storytelling, and group discussions to reinforce learning.
Stories and Scenarios: Age-appropriate stories that illustrate key concepts and provide relatable examples for children.
Skill-Building Exercises: Practical activities that children can practice both in the classroom and at home to develop their social-emotional skills.

Enhanced Emotional Well-Being: Helps children understand and manage their emotions, leading to better emotional health.
Improved Interpersonal Skills: Encourages positive interactions and relationships with peers and adults.
Academic Success: Supports overall success in school by fostering a positive and supportive learning environment.

The Confident Life Program™ aims to create a foundation for lifelong social-emotional competence, helping children navigate their world with confidence and empathy.

Junga the Dancing Yeti

Here are some of the main characters in the “Junga the Dancing Yeti” series:

Junga: The protagonist, a young yeti who loves to dance. Junga is unique among his family for his love of dancing, which he uses to stay warm in the cold mountains. His journey teaches children about bravery, acceptance, and overcoming bullying.
Grandma Yeti: Junga’s wise and caring grandmother. She accompanies Junga on his journey to find a safer place to live and helps him navigate the challenges they face.
Groth: One of Junga’s friends who learns important lessons about sportsmanship and cooperation through their adventures.
Heidi: Another friend of Junga who plays a significant role in the stories, particularly in teaching lessons about friendship and dealing with bullying.
The Condors: Initially antagonistic characters who capture Junga and Grandma Yeti, but through the story, they learn about acceptance and understanding.

These characters, along with others, help convey important messages about diversity, inclusion, and resilience through their interactions and adventures.

“Junga the Dancing Yeti” has garnered several prestigious awards for its impactful storytelling and animation. Here are some of the notable awards:

Best Children’s Book: Recognized for its engaging narrative and positive messages.
Best Animated Short Film: Awarded for its creative animation and storytelling.
Anti-Bullying Award: Honored for its efforts in promoting anti-bullying themes.
Diversity and Inclusion Award: Celebrated for its focus on anti-discrimination and inclusion.
Educational Content Award: Acknowledged for its educational value and contribution to children’s learning.
Audience Choice Award: Voted by audiences for its popularity and impact.
Best Original Character: Awarded for the unique and memorable character of Junga.

These awards highlight the series’ dedication to creating meaningful and entertaining content for children.

“Junga the Dancing Yeti” explores several important themes that resonate with children and adults alike. Here are some of the key themes:

Anti-Bullying: The series emphasizes the importance of standing up against bullying and promotes kindness and empathy. Junga’s experiences teach children how to handle bullies and support their peers.
Acceptance and Inclusion: Junga’s unique love for dancing sets him apart, but it also becomes a strength. The series highlights the value of accepting and celebrating differences, fostering an inclusive environment.
Resilience and Perseverance: Junga’s journey is filled with challenges, but his determination and resilience help him overcome obstacles. This theme encourages children to stay strong and keep trying, even when things get tough.
Friendship and Cooperation: The series showcases the power of friendship and teamwork. Junga and his friends work together to solve problems and support each other, demonstrating the importance of cooperation.
Courage and Bravery: Junga often faces situations that require bravery, whether it’s standing up to bullies or embarking on a journey to find a new home. This theme inspires children to be courageous in their own lives.
Environmental Awareness: The series also touches on themes of environmental stewardship, as Junga and his friends navigate their natural surroundings and learn to respect and protect their environment.

These themes are woven into the stories in a way that is engaging and accessible for young readers, making “Junga the Dancing Yeti” both entertaining and educational.

The animation style of “Junga the Dancing Yeti” is vibrant and engaging, designed to captivate young audiences. Here are some key aspects:

Colorful and Expressive: The animation uses bright, bold colors to bring the characters and settings to life. This helps to create an inviting and visually stimulating experience for children.
Character Design: The characters are designed with a lot of personality and charm. Junga, for example, is depicted as a lovable yeti with expressive features that convey his emotions and actions clearly.
Smooth Animation: The movements of the characters are smooth and fluid, making the dance sequences and action scenes particularly enjoyable to watch.
Detailed Backgrounds: The backgrounds are richly detailed, adding depth and context to the story. This helps to immerse viewers in the world of Junga and his adventures.
Voice Acting and Sound Design: The series features an international voiceover cast and high-quality sound engineering, which enhances the overall viewing experience.

These elements combine to create an animation style that is both entertaining and educational, perfectly complementing the themes and messages of the series.

The creation of “Junga the Dancing Yeti” was inspired by Stephen Tako’s personal experiences and his passion for promoting anti-bullying and inclusion. As a motivational speaker and anti-bullying advocate, Tako wanted to create a character and stories that would resonate with children and teach them valuable life lessons.

Here are some key inspirations behind the series:

Personal Experiences: Stephen Tako drew from his own experiences with bullying and discrimination to create a character that children could relate to and learn from. Junga’s journey reflects the challenges and triumphs that many children face.
Promoting Positive Values: The series aims to instill values such as bravery, acceptance, and resilience in young readers. By showcasing Junga’s adventures and the lessons he learns, Tako hopes to empower children to stand up against bullying and embrace diversity.
Educational Goals: Tako wanted to create a fun and engaging way to teach children about important social and emotional skills. The stories are designed to be both entertaining and educational, helping children develop empathy, self-esteem, and cooperation.
Creative Storytelling: The whimsical and imaginative world of Junga allows for creative storytelling that captures children’s attention while delivering meaningful messages. The character of Junga, with his love for dancing, adds a unique and joyful element to the stories.

These inspirations have helped shape “Junga the Dancing Yeti” into a beloved series that not only entertains but also educates and inspires young readers.

Scholarships

MTA’s Jr. Peacemaker Award and Community Leader Scholarships!

We are excited to share two incredible scholarship opportunities available for high school juniors & seniors, as well as students currently enrolled in higher institutions. Applicants must currently be attending school within the United States. These awards recognize students who demonstrate exceptional leadership and a commitment to making a positive impact in their communities or across the globe.

MTA Jr. Peacemaker Award Scholarship

The MTA Jr. Peacemaker Award Scholarship is designed to support students who are dedicated to promoting peace, understanding, and cooperation among diverse groups. Established in 2024, the scholarship aims to empower young leaders who are actively engaged in peacebuilding and conflict resolution efforts. By providing financial assistance, the scholarship enables recipients to further their education and continue their impactful work in creating harmonious communities.

Award: $2,000
Eligibility: High school juniors & seniors, current college students in the USA
Details: This award honors students who have shown outstanding efforts in promoting peace and resolving conflicts within their school, community or beyond. Their activity must be related to one of the following peace-related topics:

❖ Conflict Resolution (Non-Violent/Bullying Prevention)

❖ Social Justice

❖ Ecology

❖ Population

❖ Global Community

Applicants must complete an application during open enrollment; submit a Progress Report within the deadline period; and submit a Final Essay detailing their contributions, the impact of their actions and two letters of recommendation.

MTA Community Leader Scholarship

Award: $1,000
Eligibility: High school juniors & seniors, current college students within the USA
Details: This scholarship is awarded to students who have demonstrated strong leadership skills and a dedication to community service.

Applicants must complete an application during open enrollment; submit a Progress Report within the deadline period; and submit a Final Essay including a portfolio of their community service activities, with two letters of recommendation from community leaders.

Enrollment and Program Details

Students have the option to enroll in one (1) MTA Scholarship.

Enrollment begins on October 1st and ends on October 31st, 2024, by completing an online application.

Progress Report to be submitted online by April 10, 2025.

Final Essay to be submitted online by September 10, 2025.

Winners announced in October 2025.

MTA Scholarship Registration and Progress Form

Student Name:

Current School Name: City: State:

HS Grade Level or College Year, at time of enrollment:

Email Address: Phone:

*Drop down box lets them select Enrollment, Progress Report, or Final Essay

Box to be available for them to type in or paste their responses.

Enrollment – October 1-31, 2024:

Please detail some of the goals and objectives you plan to achieve over the next 12 months. Explain briefly why you believe you are the best candidate to receive this scholarship and how you will use the funds.

Progress Report – Deadline April 10, 2025

Please detail your progress-to-date of the goals and objectives you set out to achieve last October.

Final Essay – Deadline September 10, 2025

Please provide details of how you met or exceeded your goals and objectives that were set last October. Be sure to include details on the following: What challenges did you have to overcome? What results did you achieve? Why do you believe you are the best candidate to receive this Scholarship?

*Need to allow for pdf attachments.

With the Final Essay, all candidates need to provide two (2) Letters of Recommendation that need to include the student’s name and be signed and dated by the originator.

We encourage all eligible students to apply for these scholarships and showcase their dedication to making a difference. MTA has multiple volunteer opportunities available within its organization. If you wish to volunteer for our nonprofit organization, please visit our Volunteer Opportunities Page.

For more information and application details, please email info@motivatedtoact.org

Deadline to submit complete applications is 10/31/2024.