Academic Program: While many youths apply to Project Hope in order to secure employment, our first priority is to encourage students to pursue and maximize their academic potential. All students must agree and adhere to Project Hope’s Academic Commitment.
- Youths must be either enrolled in high school, GED preparation courses (at an accredited institution), or preparing for/enrolled in college courses;
- They must maintain exemplary attendance and a passing grade in their classes;
- They must attend weekly tutoring workshops offered by Project Hope and complete all homework assignments.
In addition to monitoring their progress and providing educational support, financial aid is also available in the form of tuition reimbursement. Students in the program understand that failure to comply with the academic commitment will result in a suspension of the jobs program.
Employment Readiness Program: Project Hope provides direct employment for all participants, teaching them job skills, responsibility and accountability. All work hours are flexible and individually structured around school/classes. Employment opportunities include:
- Our Electronic retail and on-line store (learning merchandising, customer service and the e-commerce), or
- Our “Hope Houses” program which provides materials and labor for low-income housing. Youths participating in “Hope Houses” work side by side with licensed contractors, learning everything from framing a house to installing flooring, tiles etc. The program also donates materials to the community and other non-profits, thus impressing upon students the importance of charitable giving and being part of a community.
- Project Hope also help youths connect with external employment opportunities, including local area businesses.
Our jobs program is designed for real-world application. We believe it is not enough to be instructed on work ethic; our program allows students to put these teachings into practical use. Our goal is to provide youth with the skills and experience necessary to compete in today’s work place environment and earn a living wage.
Life-Skills & Mentoring: Life-Skills training includes basic household and responsibilities management, bank accounting, family and personal budgeting, and job accountability. Each of our youths are also partnered with a personal mentor who helps them to navigate the challenges of daily life, school, and job responsibilities.
Values Development: Values Development is key to the long-term success of youths in Project Hope. Values Development includes basic responsibility and accountability to self, employer, family, and community. These are the sets of principles that drive Project Hope and our vision for betterment in our community.
