Time to Change – Youth Empowerment Program (YEP)
Youth Empowerment Program
YEP provides guidance to high school students throughout Georgetown County seeking direction in a holistic manner, as life choices, spiritual choices, and relationship choices can all contribute to career choices. The goal is to help our youth move from good intentions to working intentionally.
YEP coaches work with students on a weekly basis to develop relationships that extend beyond high school graduation. Students explore career paths in different areas, including workforce, college, and military. Students also learn soft skills, which prepare them for various career paths. Core topics include the following:
- Career Ready Skills and Career Explorations
- Teamwork and Work Ethics
- Communication Skills
- Youscience Gamification
YEP plays such a pivotal role in fostering a proactive approach to empower high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Through the mentorship of three Career Coaches, YEP endeavors to instill a sense of connection within the school community, underscore the value of education in future planning, and equip students with essential life skills. The program encompasses a nine-month curriculum featuring weekly in-school meetings and monthly Saturday experiences aimed at broadening students' horizons and bolstering their mental health and well-being.
Employment Skills Training, the foundation of Helping Hands of Georgetown’s Time to Change program, has a focus on high school students, specifically those aged 16-18. The curriculum continues to encompass various facets, including personality and skills assessments, resume building, communication skills, workplace etiquette, goal setting, and conflict resolution strategies. The overarching objective is to equip students with the necessary skills and guidance to secure meaningful employment aligned with their interests and abilities.
Furthermore, Helping Hands staff has a partnership with the South Carolina Detention Center Reentry Services to support inmates housed in the County Detention Center. Helping Hands Career Coaches assist these individuals in identifying their career goals and charting a pathway towards post-release career development.
Ultimately, our "Time to Change" service programs are dedicated to effecting sustainable, long-term positive transformations within the educational and economic landscapes of Georgetown County, thereby empowering residents to break free from the cycle of poverty.
