With the communities help, fifteen youth from The National Center for Children and Families (NCCF) Greentree Adolescent Program (GAP) will travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands in August, 2016 for an immersive summer trip.
For most of these young men, the trip will be their first time traveling on a plane and, for some, their first time venturing out of the DC metro region or their county. So far, NCCF has raised 55 percent of the cost of the trip, but we need your help ensuring we get all the young men onto the plane!
GAP’s mission is to provide adolescent males with a therapeutic environment in which they can address their trauma history and reintegrate as contributing members of society. These young men have experienced abandonment and, often, maltreatment from adults who were supposed to protect and nurture them.
A new element of the program, GAP staff have found this trip to be one of the most rewarding and formative experiences in the program. It provides a critical opportunity for youth to discover a world outside of their city blocks- allowing them to imagine more for their own lives.
According to Paye Tingba, Gap Program Director, “Travel has an immeasurable impact on these boy’s lives going forward – in a new environment they are able to meet new people, experience different cultures, and see things they have never seen before.”
“It’s also an opportunity for them to bond with their peers and NCCF staff. There is a large element of trust in travel; trusting a tour guide, trusting new food, trusting a pilot. It is a necessary element for them to move forward in their development, and this trip allows them to do just that, trust more,” says Tingba.
Of the eight GAP youth who traveled to Puerto Rico last year, six successfully reintegrated back into the community, which is 20 percent higher than the average reintegration rate.
While in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the youth will learn about and explore marine ecosystems at protected marine preserve, hike through a Virgin Islands National Park, and learn about the history of St. Thomas. While youth are excited to visit the island, they are most excited (and nervous) to fly on a plane for the first time.
Help us close the fundraising gap for the GAP trip! Fill out the below form or click on the link below to contribute! https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/Vacation
To learn more or to donate items such as swim trunks, flip flops and luggage, please contact Paye Tingba, GAP Program Director at ptingba@nccf-cares.org or (301) 365-4480, ext. 146 with any questions.
