Minnesota African Youth Enhancement Program initiative provides education opportunities and life skills to 14- 20 youths in the metro area to help them with adjustment in the school system and the community. For example how to build self esteem; stay away from bad friends and setting education goals and pursuing them This initiative was conceived to provide additional support and bridge the achievement gap in institutions of learning, in last year we ran 6 trainings and I had 15-19 youths participate  and they indicated that they found the service educative. The youths are encouraged to abstain from sex until marriage. Our youth program used drama to bring this message to the community during the African World AIDS day Celebrations in 2005 and 2006. Both occasions were attended by about 800 people. The play was entitled: “Victim of circumstances”, the focus was Human Rights and HIV.  In summer we socialize attend graduation parties and celebrate with friends and neighbors. We would like to develop summer programs for the byouths and also provide them with pre-college Counseling and other opportunities for young people in the Twin Cites.

Due to lack of funding we have not been able to develop the program further. We are open any assistance that can expand this program and give the new Americans the opportunity to develop their full potential. Some of the activities in this program include:

• Engineering workshop
• Mentoring
• Afterschool program
• Arts education, Photo storying
• Interpersonal communication
• Skills development, College Prepparation
• Intercultural communication