Organized programs that provide the opportunity for children and youth to participate in organized extracurricular and enrichment activities in a safe environment outside of the traditional school day.
In many cases children in developing countries have limited or no access to extracurricular and/or enrichment activities beyond the traditional school day. Low funding and lacking resources may prevent communities from providing a safe place for children to gather after for structured activities such as dance groups, music lessons, art classes, organized sports and academic tutoring. In order to meet the financial needs of the home, parents and guardians often work extended hours and long work days may result in children being unsupervised.
Organized extracurricular and enrichment activities that extend beyond the school day provide the perfect opportunity to build confidence and leadership skills in children in underserved communities. By engaging students in sports, music, dance, and art we begin to see children excel academically and socially in the classroom. In addition, participation in group activities builds a strong sense of community and trust in safe, supervised environment. With increased confidence, higher academic achievement and a strong sense of belong to a group children develop the skills needed for success that will extended into adulthood.