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Epworth After-school Redemption iNitiative (E.A.R.N.)
Area of Interest: Education, Literacy, Community Empowerment, Youth Skills Development, Health & Wellness, Sports
Section 1: Objectives of the Project
To create an encouraging and enabling environment that reduces community vulnerability.
Develop or strengthen participants' emotional regulation, conflict management and demonstrate personal growth.
Enhance literacy skills through personal journal, spelling, and application of the word of the month.
Increase parental and coach knowledge in empathetic and supportive engagement including tools for navigating mental health.
Increase primary aged students access to gender inclusive after school sports and life skills initiatives.
Develop or strengthen students sporting skills and life skills through theoretic knowledge transfer and practical training and activities.
Increase participation for community events including youth sports by enhancing the existing sports court.
Section 2: Needs Assessments
· September 2022 - Assessment conducted with Parent Teacher Association
The group designed a problem tree to outline the root cause of the issues that were presented by the Epworth Methodist Primary School PTA - which includes the lack of facilities, programs and resources for primary aged students in Dangriga Town.
· April 2023 town-wide survey
Through a survey we facilitated in April of 2023, of 900 primary aged students (age 6-14) in Dangriga Town, it was found that about 60% have witnessed serious violence in their community (including but not limited to attacks, stabbings and shootings), and roughly 70% have seen drug or alcohol abuse in their community. A large majority have been exposed to or experienced violence and trauma, abandonment, displacement and/or poverty.
Section 3: Project Design
Project Design & Management Courses (2023)
Design curriculum (partnered with Ministry of Education for outcomes)
Secure sports equipment and supplies (local grants and donations)
Home visits and parent workshop (one session)
Transformational coaches training (3 sessions)
Life skills and sports program facilitation (2x/week, throughout school year)
Section 4: Beneficiaries
Project will engage directly
Teachers/principals
Parents/guardians
Students
Local sports teams and players as coaches
Peace Corps Volunteers
Community members and professionals as guest speakers
Project will engage indirectly
Primary school communities
Families
Dangriga sports teams
Other local organizations
Section 5: Theory of Change
The expected impact the Project will have on the community with the implementation of the Project is as follows:
The project provides a safe place for primary school students to learn and play sports, as well as learn self-help tools from our skilled coaches to address their mental/emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Participants of the program discuss topics that can bring up strong emotions, and coaches and participants discuss effective ways to handle these natural reactions while at session and outside of session. Emotional regulation is a skill that when learned is utilized life-long. It directly impacts decision making, self-esteem, healthy relationships, and many other aspects of life.
Coaches and parents participate in workshops centered around being supportive and empathetic toward our students, as well as mindfulness and emotional regulation.
The project addresses the participation and inclusion of male and female at-risk youth in sports led by local sports coaches and education through knowledge transfer from trusted community members.
This program will be facilitated based on a curriculum developed by our Board of Directors. The curriculum includes outcomes from the existing Ministry of Education Curriculum. We structure the program by word of the month, focusing our discussions and physical activities on the following words to make up the six-month program. Discipline, consistency, commitment, perseverance, gratitude, and leadership. All crucial attributes of an individual on the path to success.
After the sports court is enhanced, the organization and after-school program will truly come to life. We believe this will bring new life to the wider community as well, as the location of the auditorium is central in town, fully enclosed by a fence, with installed security cameras. It will be ideal for hosting community events and creating revenue for vendors, small business owners, and the community at large.
Based on our survey and experience facilitating this initiative, this program is sure to evoke recognizable change in both participants and the wider community.
Section 6: Sustainability
The committee for this project includes prominent and dedicated figures in the Dangriga community including parents, coaches, and key stakeholders (Methodist church, teachers, Ministry of Education, Sports Council).
United Methodist Mission has committed to upkeep the equipment and physical space for the program, as the existing partnership between organizations is strong.
E.A.R.N. encourages leadership skills by fostering teamwork, and providing opportunities for participants to lead community projects and counseling sessions. By engaging children in community projects, workshops, and counseling, E.A.R.N. teaches them to take responsibility for their actions and their impact on the community. This nurtures a sense of ownership and accountability into the future.
Section 7: Collaborators
· Ministry of Education
· Dangriga Town Council
· Dangriga Sports Council
· Methodist Management
· Dangriga Police Department
· LOVE Foundation/US Embassy
· United States Peace Corps.
· Belize Bank
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