Youth Empowerment
Currently, our efforts around Youth Empowerment involve partnering with the established afterschool and mentoring programs in the area. We have provided resources and support for the following initiatives thus far:
The Sterling Community Center is the location of the community's oldest afterschool program called The Torch. It serves children from ages 6 through 17. It is also the location of the community's teen program called The Huddle. Bon Secours St. Francis Community Relationship Building & Parish Nursing staff provide advocacy, resources, and support for both youth programs. Click on the picture to learn more about these programs.
Clemson University's Building Dreams provides mentoring services based on principles of
positive youth development to children of incarcerated parents. Started
in 2004 in five counties of South Carolina, the Building Dreams program
has gradually expanded so that today services are available in eight
counties and will soon expand state-wide. The overarching goal is to
develop close, supportive, one-on-one mentoring relationships between
trained adult volunteers and eligible children. Staff and Leaders from our Bon Secours St. Francis facilitites are also Building Dreams Mentors for Sterling Youth. 
We also support their events and programming, such as the Sterling Spinners, a Youth Bike Club!
