Program Summary

Since its inception, YouthCare has created two strong and sustainable programs:

The Safehaven

A fully functioning home for orphaned or at-risk youth. Currently, 12 adolescent boys receive meals, clothes, educational/biblical instruction, full-time adult care and supervision, and participate in an array of fun enrichment activities throughout the week. The Safehaven acts as a longer-term home and school for these 12 boys (10 of whom they have retained since the Safehaven's started over 3 years ago). One of the goals of the Safehaven is to educate these children while YouthCare attempts to raise scholarship funds for their school fees (public schools in Malawi require fees for books, uniforms, tests, and other necessary materials). The Safehaven gives individual academic attention to these children in the meantime to make sure they continually progress in their education. This program constitutes the primary project of YouthCare and requires the bulk of the ministry's resources.

The Afterschool program

A 3-hour afternoon outreach program targeting at-risk youth. The structure resembles something akin to Vacation Bible School here in the States: songs, a Bible lesson, games, and occasionally clothes and toys when the staff receives donations. Within the last year the Afterschool Program has grown from around 40 kids to over 200. They have added an additional two days to the camp in order to keep up with its increasing popularity.