Cherokee Youth Works
A nonprofit fundraiser supporting
Cherokee Focus IncSupport youth looking to improve their future and become productive members of society.
$0
raised by 0 people
$5,000 goal
We can continue helping youth in the community with your help!
In 2008 Cherokee FOCUS began the Cherokee Youth Works (CYW) Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act program. This program aims to stand in the gap for vulnerable youth ages 16 to 24 in Cherokee County providing education and work readiness. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cherokee County School District (CCSD) had to transition to virtual learning through the remainder of the 2020 Spring semester and in-part during the Fall semester. Students were expected to adapt to online learning. This abrupt change caused many challenges for students in vulnerable families such as lack of access to technology or computers with cameras. This was also a great hardship on the working parents that have to continue to go to their daily jobs. We have been receiving many calls from frustrated parents and their children who are struggling to learn in a virtual or hybrid classroom. We have found that the students in lower economic income families, have fallen behind and began looking for alternative educational opportunities that better suit their needs for this unique school year. The CYW staff are able to establish individualized service plans for these students that include specific goals and benchmarks. The goal being to fully prepare these young people to enter the workforce and achieve their potential to become productive, self-sufficient citizens who contribute to their community. The program has built up a very good reputation over the years and for that reason we currently have 30 students on our wait-list while 51 are currently receiving services.
CYW currently has a life skills, work readiness and GED preparation program. We hope to see all participants achieve their potential to become productive, self-sufficient citizens who contribute to their community.
Thinking about how much to give?
Take a look at our program needs:
- The GED test, covers 4 subjects- $160
- One GED test subject- $40
- College applications- $25
- Employment and Skill Certifications- $160-$200
- Transportation for students (i.e. gas gift cards or CATS bus)- $25 per week
- Equipment for work (i.e. work boots, goggles, safety equipment)- $35