FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 16, 2009 

Children International Receives More Than $5 Million to Help Poor Teens Around the World 
Donation helps improve education, health and future for impoverished youth.  

Initiative for Youth. The donor, who asked to remain anonymous, requested that a children’s charity be the recipient of the multi-million dollar contribution to significantly strengthen and expand support from corporations and foundations for youth living in poverty around the world. The donation lays the foundation for the YES (Youth, Education and Skills-training) Program, which focuses on educational and job-preparation benefits for teens living in poverty around the world. The program’s goal is to help over 135,000 youth supported by Children International, 60 percent of those being teenage girls, overcome obstacles to become effective agents for positive change by providing them with skills to become educated and employed and end the cycle of poverty.

Children International provides vocational and skills training like computer classes to prepare youth for future employment.

The Youth, Education and Skills-training Program provides tutoring and training needed to finish school.

Teens in under-developed countries must struggle against poverty every day to stay in school. The vision of Children International’s YES Program is that qualified youth be guaranteed support for education and the training they need to obtain a job. Teens need tutoring, computer skills and other training in order to ensure they can become self-reliant, working adults. As nearly 50 percent of teens in impoverished countries are unemployed and out of school, scholarships would be provided for either high school, college tuition or vocational training. More than 1.2 billion of the world’s young people between the ages of 15-24 comprise 25% of the workforce. Yet, the lack of jobs, experience, and job skills creates a more challenging job market with little room for inexperienced teens. The skills component of the YES Program provides teenagers with vocational training, job skills, and career counseling. The youth will receive support and guidance to a suitable career path and the necessary training for marketable jobs. Without education and employment, many impoverished young people fall victim to gangs, drugs, violence and teen pregnancy or remain victims of hopelessness. With education and the opportunities it provides, a new generation of young people can participate in solving the many problems confronting mankind. With the YES Program, youth have the partial financial support for vocational training or university tuition, career counseling to help find employment, and skills necessary to keep a job.

James R. Cook, President and CEO of Children International said, “A contribution of this magnitude will change the lives of Children International’s youth forever. The generosity of the donor creates an opportunity and impetus for corporations and individuals to break the cycle of poverty for youth by providing them with the means to contribute to society.” He continues, “We stand ready to work with corporate and foundation donors to forge a brighter future for our youth. Children International has a sound infrastructure, network of volunteers and a peer-to-peer health education unrivaled by any organization. Children International can be a strategic partner to any organization seeking to serve and advance the common global good.”

The HOPE scholarship helps teens pay for high school or college tuition and fees.

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