IEYF held its first summer enrichment camp this summer and was grateful to have Century Community Charter School as the host site. The program welcomed 30 average math students selected by Principal Dana Means. Means agreed to bring the program to her students because she said, "the programming is needed for middle school-aged children. Their current curriculum does not include financial literacy, and it should."
The camp focused on empowering and encouraging our students to know and feel confident about money. Means said she could see the program's impact after the camp ended. "They were actually talking about what they learned. They felt empowered like they had something no one else did. The knowledge they gained truly caused them to feel confident."
Means said she loved how the students were engaged in the program's lessons and that they could apply the lessons immediately for their future. Parents are even requesting the school to continue the partnership with IEYF for the financial literacy programming, said Means.
By the end of the program, Means said that the IEYF staff had become a part of the Century Community Charter School. "They are about the kids and the community they serve. You feel their love and desire to provide the best to children."
IEYF is a free camp for disadvantaged students in the community. We can bring this camp to these students because of donations and our sponsors. If you ask Means, she will tell you to consider donating to the program.
"This program makes a difference we all hope to make in the lives of children. Marginalized children don't have access to this kind of education," said Means. "It has to be brought to them. Children from middle-class families are taught some of this in their homes by their parents. Many of our students come from homes where their families are struggling to make ends meet."
If you are considering a financial program for your child, Means said you should do it. "Sign your child up and then ask them to teach you what they learned. It will help you be more financially prudent," said Means.