Youth Education Program

Program Documents

YEP Application

Four days per week, Community Lodgings provides academic support for children enrolled in our Transition-in-Place Program and children living in the Arlandria-Chirilagua community. Each day, more than 100 students attend afterschool program, drop in for evening tutoring sessions, participate in mentoring activities, or build their skills in our computer lab.

Staff and volunteers organize field trips and weekly exercise sessions, run mentoring clubs, and promote healthy attitudes to dating and conflict resolution. On average, children receive 350 hours of academic and general support each year.

Community Lodgings ensures that children have a safe place to go after school. In addition, our bilingual staff offer parents support, for example, by teaching them how to advocate for their kids.

Would you like to join our afterschool program as a volunteer? Find out more here.

DAVID & JAVIER

“I think he’s always willing to try something”, said Chris Minnich, Javier’s mentor. “I think he’s been very much someone who I find determined to make his life better than what was given to him in life. These are the reasons that these types of [afterschool] programs are critical for these kids,” he said. “The reason kids drop out of school isn’t because of academics. It’s because they dont have anyone to tell them they care about them going to school.”

In 2011, after nearly 20 combined years in Community Lodgings’ afterschool programs, David and Javier graduated Alexandria’s TC Williams High School and headed for college. We are proud to say that both students attended college in the fall. The boys had attended our afterschool program since grade school. David, who has always been a model participant in our afterschool program, attends NOVA Community College.

Javier, the other graduate, has matured exponentially over the years. As a child, he had significant struggles. But in the past few years, he redirected his priorities, taking advantage of our afterschool program and all that our staff has offered him. For example, staff worked closely with him, referring Javier to TC William High School’s rugby coach and signing him up for YMCA swim lessons. Through hard work and dedication, Javier is now on TC’s rugby and swim teams. Last summer, he worked as a lifeguard at the YMCA, played rugby and spent time with his girlfriend, before attending college in fall 2012!