PROJECT CORE
	Children’s Outreach Reinforcement & Education
YOUTH AT RISK POWER POINT		PROJECT CORE POWER POINT
Many social critics argue that today’s youth face more serious and critical risks than any previous generation. Most experts will agree that violence in schools, deteriorating family structure, substance abuse, alarming media images, and gang activity are putting today’s teens at a greater risk than a decade ago. Whether in school, at home or with peers, our youth are bombarded by negative cultural influences, peer pressure and often challenging life circumstances that include poverty, lack of parental involvement, domestic violence, bullying and harassment at school. Some kids prove resilient; others do not. We do know that kids who are connected to caring adults, engaged in school and have productive roles at home, in organizations or the community at large have strengths or "assets" that help to insulate them from pressures and influences that prove destructive. In contrast, kids who find themselves hopeless, depressed and disconnected from others turn to increasingly harmful and risky behavior. Further, teenagers who have trouble coping with the stresses of life are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, engage in criminal activity, are sexually promiscuous, and attempt suicide President Ronald Regan conducted a Youth at Risk Symposium many moon ago and one of the main conclusions, which remains’ consistent today, was the need for teens to “give back” to their community through volunteer service which enhances their self-esteem. This enhancement of teen self-esteem has been proven to empower teens to stand up to peer pressure and do the right thing. No one entity can fully support the needs of young people, it is essential that families, relatives, schools, faith-based organizations, government agencies, businesses, and other community groups work together to help youth grow in healthy ways and to provide the safe and supportive environments they need to thrive. Project CORE is a simple way we Lions can help our youth mature into productive members of society while helping our local Lions Clubs.
STEP 1 - Youth Evaluation – Each Lion Club conducts a meeting with the local middle and high school state mandated “Wellness Committee” and determines the “character” health of your community youth and how the schools are currently educating them about proper personal behavior as well as risky situations such as use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, the effects and implications of bad diet, fighting, gangs and sexual promiscuity.		STEP # 2 - Partnering with Youth – Lions Club teams up with a local youth group(s) and conduct combined service projects and fundraisers such as food drives, coat drives, car washes, bake sales, pasta nights, etc. and then send the proceeds to one of the Lion humanitarian projects such as the School in a Box or some other 501c3 type cause of their selection.
STEP # 3 - Organize Community Youth Volunteers – Did you know that some High School Seniors are required to conduct community service n order to graduate and that many younger children are required to conduct community service for confirmation and other reasons? These students do not know where to turn to find safe community service. We Lions can act as a focal point within our communities for these students. We could send them letters telling them who we are – ask them to help us with our existing humanitarian efforts and community projects – ask them if they might be interested in creating a fundraiser in support of one of our LCI projects – ask them if they have a global or community cause that we can help them promote.
STEP # 4 - Youth Recognition – Implement the Lions Young Leaders in Service Award program as well as other local recognitions to promote youth self-esteem. It is a simple program with very little club manpower required. Explain the project to the school – the kids track their own hours for a year and submit completed tracking form to your club. Your club sends them to LCI who issue certificates for you or the school to present to the students.		STEP # 5 - Positive Reinforcement - Find the BUZ WORDS in the materials utilized by the local schools; create posters and street signs with the BUZ WORDS and put them up off campus on playgrounds, streets, and storefront windows, throughout your community; create postcards with the BUZ WORDS and mail them to the students during the summer months to remind them of the materials; ask local restaurants to add the BUZ WORDS to their menus and other marketing material.