The Hope Program, a new education opportunity at Christian Aid Mission Partnership (C.A.M.P.) in Austell graduated its second class on April 24. Pictured is retired Cobb County School Principal, Bonnie Little, one of the program’s volunteer instructors. Ms. Little delivered an inspiring keynote address at the commencement ceremony for the graduating class. While drawing from her own life experiences, she spoke passionately on the many aspects of how “hope” empowers lives—the ultimate goal of the Hope Program—to move women to a new life of self-sufficiency.
The Hope Program at C.A.M.P. originally began as The Hope Project, Inc. in Douglasville in 2001. The successful program merged with C.A.M.P. last summer graduating its first class in December 2012.The Hope Program has continued its mission as a faith-based life-changing training program which successfully moves women from unemployment and underemployment to full employment.
The Hope Program model begins with spiritual forgiveness and self-esteem assessment to restore hope and dignity. The program then builds upon that foundation by providing instruction in computer skills, life skill basics including financial management, effective communication, and conflict resolution, and also workplace dynamics and job readiness. The twelve-week intensive program has an 82% success rate of graduates becoming and staying fully employed. This means success not only for the mother, but also for the family, as 95 percent of the women having completed the program have children in the household.
With our continued economic conditions, this program has never been so needed by the West and Central Georgia families it serves. The Hope Program at C.A.M.P. is currently seeking new students for upcoming classes as well as financial sponsorships for the program. In addition, volunteers are needed to act as life coaches for the students in the program. Because of the continued support of the community, The Hope Program (including the previous The Hope Project, Inc. in Douglasville) has graduated over 280 women who are now living successful lives. For more information on the Hope Program, please contact Kay Wimpey, Hope Program Coordinator at 770-819-0662, x25 or kay@campaustell.org.
From the May 2013 issue of The Bright Side, Cobb County Georgia’s Newspaper covering Smyrna, Vinings, Mableton and Austell, GA.