“Working with the middle school children at Hyde Park has been great in allowing me to continue my work in the field of community development. Helping students start their own businesses and use the profits to invest in social causes, like a micro loan for an entrepreneur in a developing country, gave the students an opportunity to learn about business and entrepreneurship at key stage in their academic development.”
Hillary Gras, Class of 2011, CBA Finance
Volunteer Programs
The Social Enterprise Institute’s urban engagement initiative partners with local middle schools through the Citizens Schools Apprenticeship Program.
Our SE students serve as mentors for middle school students at under-served middle schools in the Greater Boston area by working with Apprentices (middle school students) once a week in an after school program designed around teaching and mentoring Apprentices in the areas of social entrepreneurship, small business management, micro-finance, poverty around the world and micro-enterprise development.
What do we do?
This ten week program enables Apprentices to also develop their own small business, which may include the sales of beaded jewelry or other ‘enterprising’ ideas, initiated by the Apprentices themselves. Sales from their businesses go towards the creation of micro-finance loans for entrepreneurs in developing countries, at the Apprentices own choosing through Kiva.org and Grameen America’s U initiative.
Why do we do it?
The Institute recognizes the importance of after school programs for urban youth as Citizens Schools longitudinal studies show that more than 50% of 12 year olds come home to an empty house and that the periods from 3-6PM serve as a critical time for adolescent development. Similarly, studies also show that students that participate in after school activities are more likely to graduate high school on time and are more likely to pursue tertiary education.
For more information
For more information about Citizen Schools, please visit www.citizenschools.org
For more information on how you can volunteer to mentor urban youth at local middle schools through the Institute’s Urban Engagement Initiative, please contact SEI at sei@neu.edu We will send you a link to the Citizens Schools Program Volunteer Application.