Vietnamese Friendship Association

Students engage in learning outside at the New Holly P-Patch

The Summer Youth Program (SYP) is an extension of the Educational Assistance for Student Empowerment (EASE) after-school program. After three successful years, VFA is now preparing for its fourth annual summer youth program.

Description: SYP is a program designed to build on students’ strengths to improve their academic and life potential. Youth will engage in academic enrichment, field trips, and recreation. The 6-week program will be held three times per week Tuesday to Thursday from 1 to 5pm (with occasional fieldtrips outside those hours) at New Holly Learning Center, located at 7058 32^nd Ave S., Seattle, WA, 98118.

Every year, the summer program divides students  into levels depending on grade level. The program serves students in grades Kindergarten-8th Grade.

High School Service Learning Connection: While high school students are excluded from this program as students, VFA will engage high school youth as active participants in the planning and running of SYP. To learn more about the intern position, please contact Lee Caar at leecarr@vfaseattle.org.

Starting and Ending Dates for 2011: The Program will start on July 5^th and end on August 11^th.

Goals: Through this program, we hope to accomplish the following goals:

• A fun and safe program for students
• Provide a non-traditional education experience that encourages:
  • Creativity
  • Critical Thinking
  • Leadership
  • Cultural Appreciation
• Expansion of the program in
  • Partnerships with other organizations
  • Students
  • Programming

In addition, we will develop these developmental assets in our youth:

• Increase motivation and engagement in learning
• Increase desire to go to college
• Increase self-esteem and confidence
• Increase interpersonal competence
• Increase cultural appreciation and competence
• Increase awareness of youths’ roles in and attachment to the community
• Prevent or lessen at-risk behaviors during the summer
• Broaden the comfort zones of each individual student

Fees: $200 for students eligible for free/reduced lunch or for students who sign up before June 10^th; $250 for all other students. A special discount is given towards returning students from previous years. Returning student will only need to pay $170 (please visit our office to pick up a special application form).

Flyers: Are available in both Vietnamese and English

Registration: Forms are available in HERE in both English and Vietnamese.

Contact: For more information, or to register, please contact Minh at  minhvu@vfaseattle.org or (206) 588-6553.

Students work in teams to build bridges out of straw, learning about tension and compression along the way.

As part of community service, students visit and sing for elders at the Vietnamese Seniors Association at Garfield Community Center