Wajumbe Cultural Institution, Inc.
762 Fulton Street
San FranciscoCA94102415-563-3519415-292-2516
Program: Project ACE (Academic and Cultural Enrichment)Year Started: 1993 Focus: Multidisciplinary Arts & Humanities Youth Served: 100 Ages: 6-13 Budget: $200,000 The Wajumbe Cultural Institution, Inc. has launched a pilot program that serves low-income neighborhood families and foster families throughout San Francisco. Project ACE's (Academic and Cultural Enrichment) intensive lineup of classes are offered year-round, 5 days a week for 4 to 8 hours, with extra sessions available on Saturdays. The children are provided with positive male role models, with a majority of African-American male instructors. Each session includes homework assistance and tutorials as well as a variety of cultural activities, including Congolese dance and music; Capoeira, an African-Brazilian dance; poetry; vocal music; visual arts and storytelling. Other sessions offer field trips, computer literacy training, math studies, African-American history or career orientation for older children. Health screenings are conducted at least twice a year. Parents are involved in family days, in workshops with presenters on various issues, through committees and as volunteers. "Parents feel Project ACE is an extension of their families. A lot of the barriers they face with public school bureaucracies are not there. They're trusting of Wajumbe's efforts, and that brings them closer to the program," says Executive Director Nontsizi Cayou. |