In collaboration with Serve Africa, the Youth Empowerment Initiatives today launched a program called Youth Enrichment Program (YEP).  The program targets school-going children and youth in Iowa; with special emphasis on the immigrant community.  YEP is a pilot project for summer 2023 intended to keep students actively involved in worthwhile venture while away from school.  It is a two-and-a-half-month intervention bringing together young people to learn, play, discuss, and address issues they are faced with in their daily lives.  It is an opportunity to learn new skills, knowledge, and attitudes that are not largely provided in the regular academic settings.

Additionally, it provides peace of minds for parents who are concerned about what their children are doing while they are gone to work and while their children are out of school for the duration of the summer break.

A recent survey conducted revealed that many parents have anxieties of what their kids would be doing and involved with during summer break. This program addresses that concern for parents, as well as equips beneficiaries with new skills and attitudes needed to be productive students and responsible citizens.

The Youth Empowerment Initiatives and Serve Africa, through this program, believe that children can enrich their learning outside of the normal academic settings and return to the classroom with new skills, values, attitudes, fitness, and optimism.

Lessons considered in this program include Computer Operation, Typing, Etiquette and Life Skills, Cultural Values, Recreation, and Graphics Design.

Serve Africa is a non-for-profit organization working in the United States and Africa with the aim of breaking the cycle of poverty in severely challenged communities.