Operation Nehemiah is a response to the cries of children and parents for a program to combat the increasing rates in illiteracy, drug abuse, violence, teenage pregnancy, and gang activity in the Huntsville community. Operation Nehemiah is a unique composition of four components designed to address the ills of illiteracy, violence, drug abuse, and teenage pregnancy among young people by providing positive, proactive alternative approaches to educational deficits and negative behavior. The four components are Quality of Life Program, Academic Enhancement, One-on-One for One Mentoring Program, and a Summer Employment Program.

 

Quality of Life Program is an eight-week training program for elementary, middle and high school students. This program is a complementary non-competitive approach that integrates student’s needs and desires. It addresses the cyclic and systematic destruction of young lives via the following components: education, image enhancement, recreation, spiritual development and family orientation. The program is a complementary, non-competitive approach to the preservation and improvement of youth.

 

This program has been in existence for more than 20 years. Utilizing a pool of nearly 400 volunteers this program has served almost 5000 young people between the ages of 6 and 18 years of age. The program serves young people for ten (10) hours per day, five days a week for nine weeks. Each student receives approximately 40 contact hours per week during the life cycle of the program. Fifty percent of that time is spent in education/learning settings.

 

The Academic Enhancement Program has an operational calendar that runs concurrent with the academic calendar of the Huntsville Public School system. Tutorial assistance is provided on a no-cost basis to any and all students in the Huntsville-Madison county community. Additionally, ACT Prep Classes are conducted on a schedule that coincides with the annual ACT testing schedules for the area. All services are open to the general public.

 

The Summer Employment Program offers a meaningful three-month employment experience to youth ages 15 to 18. This program is designed to help our youth set career goals, gain exposure and acquire marketable skills for future employment and career development.