HELP INC. - Community Renewal & Reinvestment
Home Contact Us Sitemap
 

 
 
 
Help Inc. Foundation's Community Self-Development Program helps communities develop sustainable solutions to address the causes and effects of poverty, injustice, exclusion and inequality. This depends upon the active participation of local leaders, community organizations, and community members, for communities to achieve self-sufficiency, self-reliance and self-empowerment.

The primary goal of the program is to promote community self-development as a process in which local leaders, community organizations and people, define their problems and identify solutions or ways to address them.

As Help Inc. Foundation accompanies and helps train these community organizations, they will go on to become leaders and decision-makers in local, national and even international arenas affecting their communities. Help Inc. Foundation recognizes the current crisis they face and value in preserving the culture, traditions, and wisdom of Indigenous Peoples.

Help Inc Foundation recognizes youth as a valuable asset and the cornerstone of future development. At 15 of our communities, we have Youth Development (YD) programs enriching the lives of almost 400 youth from low- or moderate-income families and providing them opportunities to use their talents and skills.




How They Work

At the core of the YD Programs are project-based educational enrichment activities, school partnerships, and technology. Our YD staff includes formally trained and experienced educators, who develop curriculum and facilitate instruction. As role models, all staff participates in on-going professional development in areas related to curriculum, instruction, youth development, and technology education.

The goals are geared toward enhancing lifetime learning and success:

1. Create a sense of security, safety and control over one's life
2. Enhance positive membership in and belonging to groups
3. Raise achievement levels in technology, employability, & life skills
4. Expand self-knowledge and a positive self-identity
5. Develop critical thinking, initiative, and civic responsibility


The YD Program works with children and youth between the ages of 6 and 24 and focuses on:

  • Experiential Learning Workshops
    		•
  • Career Explorers
  • Personal Growth Programming
    		•
  • Youth Senate
  • Homework Hotspots
    		•
  • Summer Tech Academies
  • The eSharp Music Center
    		•   

    Experiential Learning Workshops

    6-12 week workshops comprised of standards-driven and technology-infused interactive learning projects for youth. Youth improve their mastery of technology and life skills, while advancing their reading and math skills. Some workshop examples are Architecture & Mathematics, Rockets & Engineering, Digital Music Composition, Basic Computers, and Videography.

    Career Explorers

    Youth are exposed to a variety of possible career fields through interactive field trips and guest speakers. They keep e-portfolios documenting their growth. Instructors then use the e-portfolios for noting personal interest areas and offering individualized opportunities based on interests.

    Strong Personal Growth Programs

    Youth are provided opportunities designed to help them achieve a positive sense of self, sense of community, and stronger success skills. On-going examples are our internal and external awards systems, group dinner programs, and team working, leadership and conflict resolution initiatives.

    Youth Senate

    Facilitators advise and instruct students on leadership development and governance as youth provide program direction and identification of need areas. Youth, nominated and elected by peers, represent their interests and advocate on their own behalf in the greater community. In essence, youth partake in building their own programs toward the goal of becoming their own leaders.

    Homework Hotspots

    Students can study and complete their school assignments. Staff offers one-on-one and group support as needed, while monitoring the students’ overall progress.

    Summer Tech Academies

    Through our Summer Academies youth are offered basic web design principles and techniques, instruction in storyboarding, webpage layout, HTML dynamics, PaintShop Pro, inserting graphics, and more. Also, students are exposed to PC hardware and networking, can create animation shorts, and learn to integrate video and music technology with software to produce short video's and music CD's.

    The eSharp Music Center

    A specialized program of Help Inc Foundation’s Youth Development is the eSharp Music Center. This center provides a means of reaching teenage/older youths through fun yet constructive and educational activities. Classes are offered in music composition and performance and supported by programming focusing on building positive self-identities and positive leadership competencies. Students produce their own music on professional-grade MIDI equipment while collaborating with others in the studio. Projects are recorded in our state-of-the-art 64-track recording studio. Instrumental lessons, ensembles and scholarship opportunities are available to students who show exceptional talent and initiative.

         
    		 
     
      Home | Contact Us | Sitemap
    		 
      Copyright © 2007, HELP INC. All rights reserved.
    Designed By :: Aprajita Technologies