KidPledge
Summary:
A practical program that uses the goal of literacy to develop fun and educational opportunities for in-school at-risk youth, ages 6 to 12 after-school and full day summer program. KidPledge has successfully transformed two sites in Ward 8, Atlantic Terrace and Forrest Ridge, into an after school haven for neighborhood kids east of the Anacostia River . These programs are non-exclusive after school and full-day summer initiatives. Over the past four years, KidPledge has developed a curriculum that ties technology to academic creativity using project-based electives, multi-media tools, as well as tutoring with schoolwork.
Detail:
Purpose: The purpose of ARCH’s after-school program is to expand the knowledge of the 150 low income children, aged 6 to 12, to be served and to develop the whole child, physically, academically, and socially. This is accomplished by raising reading skills, increasing computer literacy, improving social skills, providing exposure to different cultures, and increasing access to quality health care and information.
Neighborhood Served: This program is operated at two low-income apartment complexes in Ward 8, the Southeast Section of Washington, DC. The demographics of the area are:
| Factor |
Target Area |
% DC |
%US |
| Poverty rate |
39.7% |
16.9% |
11.8% |
| Unemployment |
18.1% |
6.0% |
4.3% |
Need: Besides the demographics of the area, provided above, which clearly show the area’s need for quality programs, two other statistics stand out. Of the current 100 children in the program, 61.4 % are reading at below grade level. Additionally, over 80% come from single parent households.
Program Objectives:
The five objectives for the children in the program are:
- To improve reading skills
- To increase computer literacy
- To develop social skills
- To increase access to quality health care and information
- To foster an understanding of different cultures
- To do it all in a safe environment
Improving reading skills: The children receive assistance in developing reading skills through being read to aloud; one-on-one adult mentoring; being part of a book club with reading incentives and by coordinating after school reading projects with in school assignments.
Increasing Computer Literacy: To increase computer literacy among the children the computer program has the following components:
- Educational software to support the objectives of the program
- Classes designed to create project using different software applications
- Web design training
- Internet navigation
- Creation of Self-tutoring CD’s
Develop Social Skills: The development of social skills is the central piece to the program. Social development is a part of everything the children do. Our program incorporates social development into each part of the after-school program.
Increase access to educational testing: One important goal of the program is to provide children with the care that they need to be healthy. A major reason why children are doing poorly in school is because they are not in good physical health.
Increase exposure to different cultures: It is critically important is to expose the children to a variety of cultures. Along with an emphasis on learning about their own culture, our program will be designed to expose children to many different cultures.
