Higher Education and Learning Program: The Colorado based program, the “Higher Education and Learning Program” or HELP, was initially formed to create an opportunity for the students from the Asian Hope Children’s Homes to attend college and receive additional leadership training after high school. The students in HELP give back through local volunteer internships, and will contribute to their countrymen upon their return to Cambodia. We have eight (8) students who are now in the U.S. attending colleges and participating in HELP. We have three (3) more students in college in Thailand and India.
HELP is designed to provide training and valuable life experiences that will enable every graduate to better serve and lead their community. This is accomplished through receiving a college education, internships, leadership training, and relationships with sponsoring mentors. HELP ensures that each student realizes that they can make a difference. Students learn how to lead, how to serve, how to use their skills to better their surroundings, and how to continually develop themselves through every opportunity given to them.
HELP believes a holistic approach to creating leaders is necessary. The students that have entered this program are required to do the following:
A: College: HELP matches students with colleges and universities which provide a good fit for degree programs, quality of education, and financial feasibility.
B: Internships: HELP assists students in establishing internships that will prepare them for their careers and further equip and strengthen their life skills. HELP has been able to secure top-quality internships with local non-profits and for-profits over the past three years, such as: Dish Network, E&M Sales, Chick-fil-A, hospitals, the Denver Rescue Mission, and Mountain Springs Lodge.
C: Leadership Training: HELP endeavors to improve and publish on-going Professional Curriculum for our training programs. The curriculum covers a myriad of skill-sets to help with internships, academic success, marketing, identifying and developing strengths, and professional relationship skills. Each student will complete this program with better life and professional skills, and the ability to use these for the betterment of their community.
D: Sponsoring Mentors: HELP matches students with individuals or families that will help with costs, be in contact with the student throughout the year, and who will offer support, assistance, and mentoring to them as necessary.
Asian Hope requires each student in HELP to maintain any academic scholarships, work on campus part time during the school year, assist Asian Hope with special events when feasible, and return to Cambodia upon graduation.
Today, we are looking for partners to become Sponsoring Mentors for the 8 students without full financial coverage. If you are interested in becoming a Sponsoring Mentor, or would like more details, please contact Jordan Fischer at jordan@asianhope.org or 303-653-6576.