Who We Serve:
The student population served by New Hope Charities, Inc. is primarily from the western communities of Pahokee, Canal Point, Belle Glade and South Bay. New Hope targets youth ages 6 to 14 years of age and approximately 56 percent of the children participating in our program are Latino, 43 percent are of African-American or Haitian descent, and the remaining 1 percent is Caucasian. The program consists of 60 percent male students and 40 percent female students.
Young people living in these communities must contend with some of Palm Beach County's highest levels of poverty, crime, teen pregnancy and school dropout rates. In fact, the 2000 census indicates that only 46 percent of the residents in the City of Pahokee, where our center is located, graduate from high school. This figure is nearly half of the national average of 80 percent. Many of the young people in our program come from single parent households and fall below federal poverty guidelines. Statistics indicate that an estimated 40 percent of the children in Pahokee fall below the national poverty line with an average per capita income of only $10,346 (based on 2000 census). This level of poverty leads to isolation, as family units rarely travel beyond the borders of their own neighborhoods. A significant number of these children have little or no understanding of life outside their community and don't feel connected to mainstream society.
New Hope Charities provides the youth in our program with a stable environment that encourages growth and learning. We are also combating the high drop out rates in the community schools by providing educational and cultural opportunities that would not otherwise be available. By identifying the needs of each student and providing them with individual homework assistance and tutoring, as well as access to our computer lab and lending library, we are helping them to attain the skills necessary for grade promotion and improving their probability of graduating from high school. Students also have the opportunity to attend more than 20 field trips per year, including trips to local museums, cultural performances and environmental learning expeditions, exposing them to influences outside of their own community. Our belief is that these experiences build self-esteem and confidence and incite creativity, traits that will translate into stronger citizens building a stronger community for future generations.