The Alliance’s Kijana Youth Program was recently awarded $14,000 of grant funding from the Center for Afterschool, Summer and Enrichment for Kids, or CASE for Kids, a division of Harris County Department of Education. The County Connections Youth Summer Initiative 2023, funded directly by Harris County, supports non-profit organizations that address the need for youth services during the summer.

The Alliance’s Kijana Youth Program provides services to create opportunities for refugee and immigrant youth to achieve academic success and to cultivate valuable leadership skills. Kijana tutors provide academic tutoring, math/science labs, and computer lessons to over 280 students in the Gulfton area of Southwest Houston each year. In addition to academic support, Kijana tutors also involve the students in various cultural, team-building, and leadership activities, including physical recreation, art projects, music and dance, field trips, and volunteer projects.

Initiatives funded by the CASE for Kids County Connections program provide comprehensive summer programs, short term projects, and summer camps hosted in person or virtually from a variety of locations including schools, community centers, apartment complexes, and churches. The vision of CASE for Kids is to ensure that every child in Harris County will have access to high-quality, expanded learning opportunities. CASE for Kids believes a quality out-of-school time program provides avenues for opportunities for youth to excel, explore, and expand their horizons before school, after school, on weekends, and during the summer.

Sandra Buchholz, Director of Education & Literacy, The Alliance, said, “County Connections funding will allow the Kijana Program to provide activities for youth in grades 8 -12. Activities will include career exploration; guest speakers from various industries that reflect the communities we serve, such as entrepreneurs and Workforce Solutions representatives; financial literacy and credit workshops; college exploration, such as ways to pay for college and college campus tours; tutorials on completing job applications; job readiness activities; and assistance in creating a resume for high school participants. Students will also have the opportunity to explore technical and certificate training programs that pay living wages and don’t require a 4-year degree. Younger kids will participate in cultural activities, arts and crafts, book club, music lessons courtesy of Nameless Sound, and field trips.”

The Alliance’s Kijana Youth Program is one of 17 grantees sponsored by Commissioner Lesley Briones to provide engaging summer activities at sites across Harris County Precinct 4. We are grateful to Harris County and Commissioner Briones for their investment and support of out-of-school time programming.

For more information about The Alliance’s Kijana Youth Program, please visit thealliancetx.org/kijana-youth-program