The Greater Princeton Branch of AYLUS (GPA) joined a team of volunteers for the Children’s Program of HomeFront, NJ in a public library. On March 22nd & 29th (2 hrs each), GPA members Amy Lin, Ying Zhu, and more, took part in the Joy, Hopes & Dreams program and worked with the program director, Mr. Chris Marchetti, and others to teach children coding and game design.
According to HomeFront (https://www.homefrontnj.org/childrens-programs/), this project aims to help motivate underprivileged children to keep learning (and to break the cycle of poverty):
“Joy, Hopes & Dreams offers a stellar lineup of engaging, fun activities to the wonderful school-age youngsters we serve. Sadly, many children from families facing homelessness or severe economic hardship don’t have access to help with schoolwork and tutoring; classes in music and the other arts; team sports; or horizon-expanding outings.”
“HomeFront’s children’s programs nurture our area’s poorest children individually from birth through the teen years so that they will grow aware of life’s possibilities and on a path to realizing them. No matter the age or the circumstance of the child who comes to HomeFront, each is given respect, love and above all, given hope for a bright future—a vision that all-too-often eludes children going through the horror of homelessness. Children from low-income families are just like other children.”
“They need to get out, spend time with friends and just play. After-school hours and weekends are important times for children to be children, and that’s when our Joy, Hopes & Dreams program takes them away. Some of the kids reside in the Family Preservation Center, but most are alumni and living in their families’ new apartments. Led by the charismatic “Mr. Chris” Marchetti, Joy, Hopes & Dreams provides homework help, cultural enrichment and just plain fun. It is not site-based; using the “Magic School Bus” model, a HomeFront bus collects the kids and connects them to the array of social, cultural and education opportunities that the larger community has to offer. We know how important educational success is to the future of our kids.”
“So our Educational Success Center involves children residing at the Family Campus with quality after-school tutoring and homework help. Children’s Champion is a unique early-intervention and support-service initiative for homeless children. Each child residing in the Family Preservation Center is assigned a “champion” – a case manager, who will be his or her advocate.”
