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“TL teaches/helps teens be more confident in themselves and speak in the open.” -Youth- |
The
Teen Leadership Program teaches Hmong youth age 12 to 24 leadership skills and provides them with opportunities to practice them in their community. Engaging Hmong youth in positive youth development activities also helps to prevent teen pregnancy and delinquency. This program also encourages them to finish high school and make plans to continue their education in order to enter a good career. The goals of this program are to:
- Enhance the leadership skills of Southeast Asian youth.
- Improve the communication skills of Southeast Asian youth.
- Engage Southeast Asian youth in service learning activities.
- Build parental support for teenagers.
- Increase the self-esteem of Southeast Asian youth.
- Build awareness of the issues related to teen pregnancy.
- Reduce teen pregnancy within the Southeast Asian community.
Program achievements :
During fiscal year 2007-08 (July 1-June 30), 12 youth were active in the Teen Leadership Program. Currently, 23 youth are actively involved. Youth participate in a Teen Pregnancy Prevention Project that is a joint effort of the Association for the Advancement of Hmong Women in Minnesota, Inc. (AAHWM) and the Southeast Asian Community Council (SEACC), funded by the Minnesota Department of Health. This program teaches youth and parents about teen pregnancy prevention and encourages Hmong youth to stay in school, graduate from high school, and make career plans that will encourage them to go on to higher education or vocational training.