Programs & Services
Youth Development Academy
Summer Youth Development Academy: CSUDH
Every summer, at-risk youth from underserved middle schools come to California State University Dominguez Hills to participate in ShareFest’s Summer Youth Development Academy (YDA). For four weeks, students participate in sports, theatre, art, team building, games, leadership exercises, and creative writing and community service. YDA’s curriculum incorporates topics such as health, nutrition, character building, decision making, self awareness and leadership. We strive to teach students how they can take control of their lives and change the world around them. By the end of the four weeks, students will have learned how to dream big, play hard, relate to one another and realize the enormous impact they can have on their neighborhoods.
**2010 Summer YDA, August 2–27, Mon–Fri 8am–1pm, CSUDH**
For a FLYER, click here.
For an APPLICATION, click here.
For a WAIVER, click here.
For more info, please contact Anwar Shariff at anwar@sharefestinc.org.
Year-Round Youth Development Academy: Avalon High School
ShareFest's year-round YDA at Avalon Continuation School in Wilmington was an offshoot of the Summer YDA. Because our summer component was such a success, we wanted to expand our programming to offer it in the schools on a year-round basis. We decided to start our year-round academy at Avalon High School because the students there were in the greatest need. Avalon High School is an alternative education setting (continuation school) within the LAUSD. Avalon’s mission is to give students a second chance to achieve the success that they never had to experience in larger traditional high schools.
Through our Youth Development Academy that we host on campus, students are given a chance to participate in subjects such as art, leadership development, lifetime fitness (a physical education course taken on the campus of CSUDH for high school and university credit), and job readiness. They are also offered opportunities to do community service. As a commitment to our support of academics, we have collaborated with the school’s administration to ensure that students enrolled in any of our programs will receive academic credit that will be applied toward graduation. Students are also provided mentors who model academic success and a “can-do” attitude and are committed to the development of leadership qualities in our students; they help with academics as well as support the students' efforts towards an advanced education.
“I have seen kids radically changed when they are given a platform to do something good”
– Regina Awtry, Principal of Avalon High School
YDA Counselors
ShareFest always hand-picks its counselors. We look for dedicated individuals who have a heart for service and the determination to make a difference in the world by enhancing the lives of young people. We rely on our counselors to bond with the students and really make their experience special. Our counselors are responsible, energetic and are always doing their part to ensure that our kids are having fun!
YDA Volunteers
Our volunteers really make up the foundation of our ability to offer all of the programming that we do. Many of our summer YDA workshops have been led by volunteers who have generously given their time to share their expertise on a given subject. During our year-round YDA, it was our volunteers that tutored many of the students at Avalon who needed help passing the California High School Exit Exam to graduate. We love our volunteers! To volunteer, please contact Anwar Shariff at anwar@sharefestinc.org.
