About the Nonprofit
Visit Our Website
MISSION AND BACKGROUND:
Horizons Youth Enrichment Program Inc. believes in educating, empowering, engaging, and interacting with youth within our community to expose and equip them with tools and life skills at an early age. We provide a structured, nurturing environment, filled with educational, fun life skills and activities, that will promote social and emotional growth, as well as build self-esteem, self-confidence, values, and morals.
Established in 2004, Horizons Youth Enrichment Program Inc believes positive youth development is an intentional, pro-social approach that engages youth in their communities, schools, organizations, peer groups, and families in a manner that is productive and constructive; recognizes, utilizes, and enhances youths’ strengths; and promotes positive outcomes for young people by providing opportunities, fostering positive relationships, and furnishing the support needed to build on their strengths.
HYEP is also pro-social, benefiting not only the youth and young adults’ but the entire community in which they live. Research have found that getting youth involved in pro-social activities, such as volunteering on a community project, or doing a group activity with other youth, reduces the likelihood that they will engage in problematic activities and behaviors.
HYEP is a positive youth development approach which can be implemented across different types of programs, systems, and settings. HYEP can take on different forms and can co-exist with varied programs – an apprenticeship programs, enrichment programs, and youth employment programs.
HYEP engages youth and inspire input in all activities, we do not “lecture” or “talk at” but instead seeks to engage youth to learn, and express themselves respectfully by encouraging them to participate on committees and project that they themselves are interested and invested in. This goes beyond just doing things and includes being emotionally involved and cognitively involved – caring and thinking – about what the program has to offer.
HYEP recognizes youth and young adults as people with potential and promise. Youth and young adults have worth and strength. HYEP helps them recognize and tap into these qualities, building self-confidence and assurance, which leads to positive contributions.