Why Not Young Lives Summer Academy

The impact of the Why Not Summer Academy cannot be overstated. Beyond the classroom, our scholars may face challenges like hunger, neglect, or trauma, but once they enter our caring environment, those burdens fade away. Our program becomes a family for these children.

Each year, our community, nation, and world grapple with a summer reading deficit and the need for math remediation. When the school year ends in May/June, many children lose valuable hours of reading and math development.

The Why Not Summer Academy is a five-week program designed to address these challenges. It serves children and youth in grades 3–8 in communities where academic enrichment is limited or unaffordable. Our program aims to boost children’s motivation to read using STEM and to instill a love for learning. Students engage with a research-based, multicultural curriculum that empowers them to excel and believe in their ability to make a difference.

This summer, Why Not Young Lives will host a site in Orangeburg, SC. This is an exciting development that will significantly impact our community, empowering children to reach their full potential. Daily activities from 8:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. will include classroom instruction, field trips, and structured recreation. Each child will receive two meals and two snacks daily, and parent empowerment sessions will be held weekly.

We need your help to ensure our scholars can attend. Fundraising efforts are underway to implement all proposed program activities. Donations are crucial to meeting our funding needs for summer 2024. Your support will enable us to provide a summer of literacy, STEM, cultural experiences, social justice, and family empowerment to approximately 50 youths and their families in Orangeburg County.

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