How We Help

Created in 1998, Project STRIVE is a GED and leadership program for at-risk youths who have dropped out of high school in the greater Merrimack Valley. The program runs the full year and meets Monday-Friday for 20 hours per week, leaving time for work experience and internships. The program is funded, in part, by the Merrimack Valley Workforce Investment Board as an Out-of-School Youth (OSY) program.

Sponsorship Program

The program costs $4,899 per student. You can sponsor an at-risk youth in the STRIVE program. We greatly appreciate any donation to this indispensable community program.

Each youth in the project STRIVE program:

• Is selected based on entry criteria such as proof of low income, residency, employment barriers, and willingness to improve.
• Participates in all STRIVE classes and receives all materials necessary for class participation
• Has access to all workshops, trainings, and certifications offered by the Leadership and Literacy Foundation
• Works at a local business as a paid intern for at least 10 hours per week in a field identified as an attainable career choice

As a STRIVE youth sponsor, you receive:

• Weekly and monthly reports and evaluations on the sponsored participant's progress, employment status, and next steps
• Letter of proof of tax-deductible donation
• A sense of satisfaction knowing that you have made a difference to at-risk youth and the larger community by helping to generate an employable, effective member of society

Work Experience

Job Shadow - To learn hands-on work maturity skills, students shadow professionals in a variety of career fields.

Internship - Participants are placed in local businesses as paid interns to learn the basics of being employed: responsibility, maturity, teamwork, problem solving, interacting with others, and career and life choices.

Job Placement - Project STRIVE staff work with participants to place them in career building occupations with strong job growth and potential for promotion.