"It takes a village to raise a child..."

African Proverb

Our Story

We met on this magical island in 2021 by the introduction of a dear friend, who is living on Madeira for the past 25 years.  Together we have created a youth program truly designed to make a life-sustaining difference in the lives of youth.  Youth come from all over the world to learn about themselves, the environment in which they live in and how the relationship between the two can become self-fulfilling and self-actualizing.  Since the program is in-depth and intensive, the changes that each youth experiences and achieves can be expected to last a lifetime.

 MEET OUR TEAM:

Robert G. Geniesse, M.A.

                                                                                                               Founder and Chief Psychologist

Robert is a founding member and has roots in the American Midwest. As a psychotherapist / psychologist for children and adolescents, he has devoted his entire career to supporting the most challenged people with the aim of giving them meaning and, above all, vision. Robert never gave up on a child in his care, no matter how difficult it was, as he often found a way to work with the child in creative "out of the box" experiences. That is why he was awarded the Distinguished Executive Leadership Award from Child Welfare League of America in 2002. Since he spent some time in Maui, Hawaii (USA) in 2008 and was introduced to the Na Kiki O Ka Aina program, he began to form the current vision that will be implemented as Jardim da Cura. Robert is the Managing Director and clinical psychologist at Jardim de Cura Association. Robert has been living in Europe (Germany and Portugal) since 2016.

*** *** *** *** ***

"By working intensively with youth provides them an environment in which they are forced to look at all aspects of their life and together we can reformulate a future based upon newly acquired social skills and proactive behaviors."explains Founder Robert Geniesse, M.A.

*** *** *** *** ***

Tanja Fenz

                                                                                                                         Program Coordinator

From Göttingen, Germany, Tanja Fenz has led numerous courses on violence prevention, self-defense and health for over 100 institutions, as well as having managed a large martial arts center with over 1,500 students in the last 10 years. After relocating to Portugal, Tanja is now the Program Coordinator for Jardim da Cura: a unique therapy program for troubled adolescents located on Madeira Island.

LOCATION OF THE PROGRAM:

Casa Zen of Prazeres, Madeira Island

                                                            Casa Zen, Prazeres, Maderia Island

Exclusivity and individuality - tailor made care

In order to guarantee individual care at the highest level, the Jardim da Cura program only offers space for a maximum of five young people at a time. They are accommodated in the luxurious Casa Zen, an idyllic property with panoramic views of the Atlantic and its own pool. The permanent supervision by experienced professionals creates an exclusive, private environment that offers the young people safety and security.

If Casa Zen has full capacity, Jardim da Cura will rent a local AirB&B where a Pedagogue or Psychologist will live full time with a youth.  Most daily activities and events, however, are conducted at Casa Zen.