Children’s Hope India supports 2 new local projects for underprivileged children

The Island Now
(Photo courtesy of Children's Hope India)

Children’s Hope India, which helps underprivileged children progress from poverty to prosperity giving them a chance for a brighter future, has recently provided support to two after-school programs for underprivileged children in the New York area: an after-school program at the Woman’s Opportunity Rehabilitation Center in Hempstead and an after-school STEAM — science, technology, engineering, art and math — program in the South Bronx run by BronxWorks. 

Both programs were initiated at the beginning of the 2017-18 academic year, with ongoing and increasing enrollment being seen at the beginning of this calendar year.

(Photo courtesy of Children’s Hope India)

The Woman’s Opportunity Rehabilitation Center is a community correction program which offers alternative-to-incarceration programs for female offenders in and around Nassau County, New York.  

Unfortunately, for women who are mothers, the impact of their imprisonment is also felt by their children. Research has shown that school-age children of incarcerated parents exhibit school-related problems, both in terms of academic performance and absenteeism, and problems with peer relationships. 

Studies have shown that parental incarceration can, in fact, be more traumatic to students than even a parent’s death or divorce, and the damage it can cause to students’ education, health, and social relationships puts them at higher risk of one day going to prison themselves.  

With funding from Children’s Hope India, Woman’s Opportunity Rehabilitation Center has implemented a Comprehensive After-School Tutorial Program for approximately 50 children whose mothers have had contact with the criminal justice system.

Through this intervention, the program, which runs four afternoons per week, will increase students’ achievement by providing homework assistance utilizing the most recent technology. This will assist them in completing their required assignments and work towards greater future proficiency.

By enhancing students’ understanding of the required lessons and strengthening their basic knowledge of the material, the program seeks to improve their self-esteem and increase their desire to become engaged in daily classroom activities. Students will become empowered which will improve their behavior and functioning in school. Teens from Children’s Hope India’s “CH3” group volunteer at the WORC program, and CH3 also donated backpacks and school supplies to the children in the program.

In the South Bronx, the adult illiteracy rate is nearly 50 percent, and 67 percent of school-aged children read below grade level.

Educators, youth service providers, and child development experts have all expressed concern about the lack of exposure that many African American and Latino children have to STEM/STEAM pursuits at an early age. This has long-term implications, as these youngsters tend not to take high level math or science courses in high school. 

Children’s Hope India has provided BronxWorks with a generous grant to launch STEAM-related lessons at two of its after-school programs. The new curriculum enriches the lives of over 80 children at the BronxWorks Third Avenue and Bronxchester Houses after-school locations with valuable lessons in STEAM concepts.

Elementary and middle school students enjoy hands-on activities, such as robotics, learn from a rigorous curriculum, and create projects for a Science Fair at the end of the year. A nutritional component is also included in the support provided by Children’s Hope India. 

“BronxWorks is grateful to continue our partnership with Children’s Hope India,” BronxWorks Executive Director Eileen Torres said. “With generous support from the foundation, we will continue to provide invaluable lessons in STEAM, encourage critical thinking, and encourage students to pursue higher education.”

The Children’s Hope India STEAM grant builds on a partnership with BronxWorks that was formed in February of 2016. That year, Children’s Hope India supported BronxWorks in an initiative providing Social Justice Public Service Announcement Workshops to youth enrolled during the summer in the BronxWorks cornerstone community centers located in New York City Housing Authority developments.

“We are so pleased to work with Children’s Hope India and especially enjoy finding creative ways to showcase our collaborations and inspire others to join our mission,” BronxWorks Director of Advancement and Communications Gianna Dell’Olio said.

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