Description
Our youth development model is broken down into four distinct areas: physical activity, academics, mentoring and service learning. Each young person involved with Squash Empower receives the same programming to achieve our intended outcomes. A brief synopsis of each component is provided below:
Physical Activity:
After a brief warm-up and stretch, youth are paired with a volunteer coach who teaches them about a particular aspect of Squash per lesson. The instruction ends with the opportunity for each young person to apply their learning to an actual game situation. Sessions include a circuit fitness program to improve general fitness level.
Academics:
Twice per week, Squash Empower youth receive one and a half hours of tutoring that focuses on homework completion, conceptual understanding, concentration, preparation, organization, and time management. This is done on a 3:1 youth to teacher ratio.
Mentoring:
Mentors complement the program by providing additional individual attention to a young person. Youth meet with their mentors twice per month for one year and participate in a range of activities including visiting museums, sporting events and other cultural activities.
Service Learning:
Through service learning, Squash Empower youth become involved in volunteerism activities within their communities. Youth are provided opportunities to research areas/issues they deem problematic and address them. This includes, letter writing campaigns, community awareness festivals, and urban renewal projects. By participating in service-learning activities, we hope our young people develop a greater passion for their community and build advocacy and leadership skills from a grassroots level.
