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Youth Enrichment Program

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United States

Youth Enrichment Program

Project Coordinator:
Gloria Taylor

Project Overview:
Youth Enrichment Program (St. Louis, MO, USA) provides education programs for youth who are at risk of dropping out of school. Many of the students enrolled in the program do not have age-appropriate reading levels and have little exposure to cultural or social activities. The program continually develops classes based on the needs of the students, encourages responsible behavior, and stimulates their critical thinking skills. The classes also use effective unconventional methods to teach reading, math and grammar. Recently, the program has had success using hip-hop music in teaching basic math skills. The program facilitators regularly meet with students’ teachers, principals and parents to monitor improvement in the students’ behavior.

Recent Accomplishments:
The “adventurous reading program” has brought greater confidence in reading and a greater number of youth want to take books home from our library.

Some of the students that had come to the project with attitude and behavior problems are now in high school doing well in their studies.

Number of People Directly Served by Project:
35 youth in the Youth Enrichment Program

22 youth in the Music Education Program

Number of People Indirectly Served by Project:

196 families benefited from donated beds, appliances, and other items to improve living conditions

Goals for 2010:
Increase attendance at the after-school/summer programs

Recruit volunteers with education backgrounds from U of M

Offer more specialized programs to prevent drug use among youth

Use newsletter to appeal to new donors

Receive student feedback on programs and classes

IPM Funding Goal for 2010:
$2,500

Community Impact:
One student learned techniques for responding to bullying. He used these skills successfully in dealing with a bully at school. At the “Celebration of success”, he shared the story with other students.

How your donation may be put to use:
$208 per month provides supplies and materials for all the educational course work for the project