Alfonso, 26 years old, lives in Mexico City and is part of the “Independent Living” group at YMCA Mexico. He is cheerful, passionate about music and dancing — although he makes it clear that reggaeton is not his thing — and was searching for tools to better understand his inner world.

For him, joining Eleva marked a turning point in his personal journey. He describes the program as a key tool for learning how to regulate his emotions.

Throughout the sessions, he developed practical skills that transformed the way he relates to himself.

“I’ve learned how to manage my emotions and express what I feel and what I’m going through.”

One of the most significant changes happened not only within him, but also within his community. In the Independent Living group, he noticed a collective shift toward greater trust and calmness. “Now I see that all my peers share more about what they’re going through,” he says. Witnessing that change — from feeling overwhelmed to becoming calmer and more patient — strengthened his appreciation for the program.

When speaking about what he likes most about Eleva, he highlights the moments of calm: “I like that we do activities to relax,” he says. Those moments have helped him organize his thoughts more clearly.

When asked what Eleva represents in his life, he describes it with a powerful image: “For me, Eleva is like medicine for regulating my emotions.”

Alfonso’s testimony reflects how the program strengthens people’s ability to recognize and express their emotions, supporting them in building a more balanced life within their communities.