One-third of children who grow up in poverty will live in poverty as adults. The True Charity network is helping children escape that fate by equipping its members to develop “earn it” programs for youth in their respective communities.
Photo courtesy of Bearings Bike Works
The True Charity network believes that work is inherently dignifying for all people, no matter their age. That’s the mindset behind its new youth model action plan. Children possess real capacity to develop skills and work, so reaching them while they’re still young can empower them to break the cycle of poverty, True Charity spokesperson Savannah Aleckson said.
During a December 11 webinar, True Charity highlighted two ministries employing youth “earn it” programs: Bearings Bike Works and Self-Reliance Clubs created by the Freedom and Virtue Institute.
Bearings Bike Works
For 15 years, Bearings has been using bicycles to connect with children ages 6 to 18 in inner city Atlanta. Bearings co-founder Becky O’Mara said she and her husband started the program in their driveway, hoping to target children who don’t enroll in traditional after-school programs and help them build skills that will translate into all of life.
The concept is simple enough—kids learn how to build a bike. They advance through five levels of bike instruction, starting with basic bike components and moving on to gears and braking systems. A student must demonstrate mastery at each level before advancing, O’Mara explained.
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The students clock in and out and earn a sticker for every hour they work. The stickers translate into points they can use to buy their own bicycle. Beyond learning mechanical skills, they also take on the responsibility of caring for a bicycle, locking it up, and keeping it in good repair. It builds confidence in students who might struggle in a traditional learning environment.
Overall, it’s about so much more than bikes—the work teaches students the value of work, fosters a mindset of skill development, and nurtures relationships within the community.
Self-Reliance Clubs
The Freedom and Virtue Institute started its self-reliance clubs in response to the growing lines of students receiving free backpacks filled with school supplies. Ismael Hernandez, president and founder of the Freedom and Virtue Institute, and his team brainstormed ways for these same students to exercise their agency in earning school supplies as a reward.
Self-reliance club at Tice Elementary / Video screenshot
They launched their first club in Fort Myers, Florida, eventually expanding to many regions of the country. One Florida club has converted a garden into a small farming operation, a barista club has been selling specialty coffees in Michigan, and a group in Wisconsin builds furniture.
The self-reliance program for children is built on the idea of converting an already existing club or activity into a small business. If a school has a garden, students could invest in growing the garden and selling the produce.
Hernandez emphasized the importance of building on something that already exists. That increases the likelihood of success and makes it easier to find a willing leader.
Self-reliance clubs are a very simple model of teaching children to work, to learn about business skills, and then to sell their products and enjoy the fruits of their labors, Hernandez said.
At the end of the school year, participating students take a trip to the local bank to open an account. They can use their money to buy school supplies or even reinvest in their business.
Children learn they have freedom to make choices that affect their lives, they learn the virtues associated with Christian faith, and they begin to flourish as human beings, Hernandez said.
Even when students don’t meet their goals for the year, Hernandez said, they learn that they need to improve their product, their business plan, or their marketing.
“Hard experiences have benefits too,” he said.
True Charity is offering its members its new youth model action plan in hopes that they will develop “earn it” programs of their own.
The action plan includes supporting videos, educational tools, and other resources. The contents include guidance on determining whether a self-reliance club is a good fit for the ministry’s mission; giving project ideas, formats, and duration guidance; providing information about how to engage the community to partner with the club; and helping with logistics, including safety plans and background checks.
True Charity is a program of Watered Gardens. In the MinistryWatch database, Watered Gardens earns a Donor Confidence Score of 80–a “Give With Confidence” designation.
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