My Vision for an After-School Program by Joanna

My Vision for an After-School Program by Joanna - February 2020 Scholarship Essay

If I were to start a nonprofit organization, it would benefit at-risk students. Because troubled kids often end up being troubled adults. I feel that if we invest these students and show them that there are alternatives to the track they might be on, their futures could be much brighter. This organization would be an after school program, where once a week, students from all different walks of life could come to hang out. This program would balance education with physical activity. Volunteer mentors would come, and their jobs would be to supervise but, most importantly, build relationships with the kids. Various activities would occupy the time spent there. There’d be board-games and sports (depending on where the facility is located) that the kids could play.
One of the most positive aspects of the program would be the STEM education that the students would be automatically involved in. During a set time duration, over half would be spent learning. They could choose from various programs and projects to complete, and some would include gaining certifications. The programs and projects they would have to complete would be things they enjoy now and could use later on in life. Some would help the students then if they decided to learn a trade
Even with the opportunity to play games before and after, and with food provided, how would at-risk students become interested? After the kids completed a certain number of programs or projects, they would earn a trip to Disney World. While the kid’s initial reason for joining the program might only be to get to go to Disney, on the way to earning that trip, they would be spending quality time with positive influences, being focused on a goal, and learning valuable life skills. Setting attainable goals and then reaching them, teaches the young person a good work ethic. It also helps them to realize the power of setting goals and that by “setting their mind” to a task, they can do it!
The real trick would be acquiring the means to give kids free education, free food, and an all-expense-paid trip to Disney. Like any other charitable work, this would not be easy. A well-known axiom in the Christian community is “Money follows vision.” Meaning when you have a compelling vision, you make it clear to people, and then you ask for their help. People will get involved. Community ownership and sponsorship of the program will be a must. If I’m going to dream, I may as well imagine big. I’d love to enlist help from the Disney imaginers themselves because I feel this program is one that Mickey Mouse himself would approve of.
My main goal with this program would be inspiring kids who may not routinely receive inspiration with hope for the future. In this program, kids would learn the value of hard work. Mentors would teach them how to make good choices that can positively affect their future. Another important lesson would be the reminder that there are people (like the mentors working with the program) that care. Genuinely care about their welfare. To my utmost dismay, not all kids have someone in their life that unconditionally cares about them. For this reason, many of the kids are considered at-risk. So that’s what I would hope to achieve is teaching kids that they matter, can do well academically when they truly put their mind to it, and if you work hard, there will be significant benefits. The reward later in life might not always be Disney, but you have to start somewhere.