Project Background
The Divine force in the Universe gifts everyone with the right to life, freedom, and the pursuit meaning and purpose. However, some people have fallen on the margins of life, and the opportunities thereof to help them unearth and nurture their indwelling potential for the betterment of their life and community are hampered. Youths and young adults who experience these are emotionally, psychologically, socially, and spiritually traumatized. The evidence of these in our society is obvious; the vices in our society: the violence, drugs, addictions, etc. Our choices to fortify and strengthen these evil forces have undermined the Divine-given greatness in the oppressed.
The Struggles of Most African-Immigrant Teens
challenges that come with being a teen in America, and other indirect layers of challenges. According to Pew Research Center, most teens in America are faced with issues like anxiety and depression, bullying including cyberbullying, alcohol, and drug use (and abuse), and gangs (DeSilver, 2019). However, to the greatest extent, there are other layers of issues that affect minority or black teens more than others (racism and prejudice are their reality, and they are inescapable). More also, there other hidden layers that affect immigrant teens more than others.
Most immigrant youths are faced with several layers of subtle challenges which is barely recognized yet alone talked about. These include, but not limited to, being a teen, being Black, minority, being immigrant, and how to navigate their ways through the dual cultures (American and country of origin) or triad cultures (American, country of origin, and religious cultures). These affect their emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual development, Therefore, their sense of being, belonging, and identity are affected in a very subtle way. A more serious and pressing issue is their mental health and their openness to seek help. African immigrant youths and young adults in Lexington are massively growing, and it has become very imperative to create this awareness for conversations to begin for the better for the community.
Summary
It is in view of these that the Ubuntu Youth and Young Adult Group seeks to provide a safe space for the youths and young adults of, not limited to the African immigrants population, in Lexington to explore life, share stories, support each other, and gain Ubuntu community ideas, skills and attitudes to develop resilience in the face of adversity for a holistic wellbeing in the pursuit of their inherited dreams and purposes. To millennials, life is about belonging, identity, collaboration, and connectivity. Therefore, through this project, we hope that these youths and young adults will have the supporting system to help their emotional, physical, psychological, social, and adulthood development amidst the challenges they face.
Goals
Short-term
-Engage well in the program, being present to share.
-Develop new values and appreciation of their heritage.
-Develop ubuntu community values and identity to claim and own their heritage.
-Realize the impact of the choices we make
-Engage in Mentoring Mutuality.
-Realize their developmental needs.
Mid-term
-Engaged with better peer groups.
-Disciplined with their time and use time judiciously for their well-being and development.
-Contribute to community improvement and development.
Long-term
-Greater sense of belonging and identity for children of African immigrants in Lexington, KY.
-Good citizenship and community development for African immigrants.
-Lower rates of crimes.