Year 2 of Homework Club... Here we go!
Our Homework Club is officially entering year two of our youth education project for 1st – 5th graders. In 2021, we had the privilege to mentor and build relationships with 6 children that lived directly across the street. And this year we are praying for an even bigger impact.
Why is youth mentorship in education needed? When God gave us the vision of a transformed Chester, a few things were very clear: share the Gospel, provide addiction recovery support and invest into mentoring and educating the youth. We love building relationships, but building real change starts at the most organic level. Lasting change happens in homes, with families raising youth to make better and different decisions than our generation. Education will always be a way out. But our city has a problem: the Chester/Upland School district is one of the most challenged districts in the state.
According to Niche, Pennsylvania state test scores show:
7% of students are at least proficient in math and 23% in reading
Graduation rate is 74%
Average SAT score of 940
Chester/Upland School District is ranked among the last at #561 of #579 School Districts according to School Digger.
Who are we impacting? There is no way we could reach 35,000 people in the City of Chester, but at Greenhouse Project we live where we serve. Our simple approach is to love and impact our local community. We get to know the families and kids that play on our block, especially during outreach events.
A few weeks ago during an outreach day, our volunteer team knocked on almost every door within a few blocks of our house. We were seeking to pray with neighbors, but also shared about Homework Club targeting 1st – 5th graders. We met parents who want more for their kids, and kids who are hungry to learn, grow and thrive.
What do you do? Our goal is to partner with the best teachers, tutors, and mentors to help cultivate and inspire in children and their parents the desire to become self-led and life-long learners. With this in mind, our fall 2022 after-school homework club offers safe, accessible education support and tutoring for kids in our area using a mentorship model that encourages personal growth.
We focus on elementary-aged kids and start with homework, followed by snacks, activities and a Bible lesson. We live close enough to our neighbors to walk each child home. We are investing in resources that help us provide a quality experience for all, like recruiting certified teachers, ensuring background checks, and more.
The gradual transformation of Chester is about being intentional with the small daily details. The small things are really big things that bring about change, mostly centered around relationships. And real relationships are messy and take time. A wise man once said one of the greatest abilities in the Kingdom of God is availability.
We are asking God to do the impossible, and we need your help.
Together we can be the change needed for future generations to come. Take action with us today and invest into mentorship and education in Chester through prayer, volunteering and financial support.