Freedom School
This summer, 240 at-risk children and youth participated in Freedom School, an seven-week full-time summer enrichment program that helps children fall in love with reading, increases their self-esteem, and generates more positive attitudes toward learning.
Pre- and post-testing of the children revealed that, on average, their reading levels increased 14 months.
Young scholars participated in high-quality STEM clubs that provided them an in-depth learning experience in an area of interest to them.
Additionally, the children had the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of learning experiences, including interacting with professional guests representing various career paths, visiting museums and science centers, a campus tour of Campbell University, and participating in community service and social action projects.
After School Program
- Peacemakers offers a free after-school program for 40 neighborhood elementary school students.
- The program provides homework assistance, individual tutoring on skills that need remedial help, and a snack.
- It is offered four days a week, two hours per day, during the school year.
Book Parties
- On the third Saturday of each month, Peacemakers offers free Book Parties to neighborhood children.
- The kids receive lunch, listen to a read-aloud guest, engage in fun activities, and choose several books they are able to take home and keep.
- Low-income families generally do not have age-appropriate reading material in the home for the children, and the goal of this program is to build an age-appropriate in-home library of reading material for the child, which will have long-term academic benefits.
Computer Lab
- Peacemakers features an open-access 14-unit Windows-based computer lab that is open to anyone six days per week.
- Neighborhood children use the lab to work on school work, while many adults use it to complete online job applications.
- The lab is also available for recreational use.