Development Volunteer

  • Do you want to play a significant role in the Hopeworks community by developing contacts so that Hopeworks may continue to offer services to youths? If so, you can become a Funding Development Volunteer. Such a volunteer:
    • Develops contacts for Hopeworks who will supply business or introduce corporate sponsors to the program.
    • Attends bi-monthly Development Committee Meetings and is present at the annual Hopeworks Dinner Celebration.
    • Click here for details.

  • Literacy Volunteer

  • Do you want to have a substantial impact on the lives of Camden’s youth? Do you enjoy working one-on-one with youths to help them improve their literacy and math skills? If so, apply to become a literacy volunteer today.
    • Work one on one or in a small group setting with trainees on reading, writing, and mathematic skills.
    • Be available for a minimum of one hour once a week.
    • Click here to read more about the literacy program at Hopeworks.

  • E-Mentoring

  • Do you want to give back to the community? Or reach out to youth to help them understand more about themselves? Or motivate and encourage youth to pursue their education? Then become an E-Mentor.
    • An opportunity to connect with the trainees at Hopeworks. A volunteer must develop and maintain a relationship with a trainee by e-mailing the trainee twice a week.
    • A mentoring relationship generally requires only the time to compose a thought-provoking e-mail or an engaged response to the questions asked by the trainee: probably 10-15 minutes a week.
    • Click here to read more about becoming an E-Mentor at Hopeworks.

  • Fundraising

  • Do you want help, but not in the above roles? Would you like to help raise money for our nonprofit? Or simply help others raise funds? Then participate in our fundraising campaign! Find out how you can raise money for Hopeworks by creating your own fundraising page.

About the y c n y

We do this by enhancing the lives ­of inner-city Camden youth. We expand the learning opportunities available to them, point the way to a future full of hope, and work together to create that future. The heart of our program is technology training, which we provide in­ a safe, respectful, and celebratory atmosphere. We train our youth in state-of-the art computer applications: Web site design, geographic information services (GIS), computer networking and repair, and video.

Through the Hopeworks program, we seek in particular:

  • To reduce the high school dropout rate for African-American and Hispanic youth in Camden, New Jersey.
  • To create hope for the future, good-paying jobs, business development, and educational opportunities for Camden’s young people: specifically for African-American and Hispanic youth between the ages of 17 and 25 who have dropped out of school. Such a mission is essential because, in our city:
    • 8,000 young people have dropped out of high school.
    • At the two public high schools, the high school dropout rate is nearly 70%.
    • 34% of the city’s young people are unemployed.
    • Nearly 50% of the city’s young people live in poverty.