Why N'dugu Kwa N'dugu?
Organizational Overview
Malik saw a need for something BIGGER than another social club for boys with no purpose or goal oriented outcomes. He saw too many programs being allowed to gather, but never seeing a plan to create BETTER citizens and men. Recognizing that other Non-profit Organizations moved to correct young men socially; Malik is seeking to build a nucleus of men, businesses, contributors and partnerships that will develop young men with a purpose. Leading each young man to their purpose with the Rite of Passage (RoP) to culminate their actions will be the star. Education, career and social development after their RoP will maximize their chances to be successful and honorable MEN
S.T.E.(A) M
Partnering with existing STEAM programming and a robust curriculum to support scholastic and personal goals of the young men to enhance their knowledge and willingness to participate in S.T.E.(A)M programs in order to generate an affinity beyond the classroom. To focus on the social development of young minds, we will use the “Arts” concentration of S.T.E.(A)M to take young men out of their daily element and introduce them to cultural events and activities. We will work with the local school districts to expand STEAM directives and tutoring for the young men in the program with parental and administrative permission to enter the schools to determine a true need and develop an action plan.
CTE- Health Science
N’Dugu Academy will partner with local medical training services to offer License Practitioner Nursing (LPN) and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) Classes leading to certification and job placement. We will solicit the support of the state and local government to allow for priority civil servants examination testing opportunities for expanded opportunities throughout the state in Emergency Medical Technician Training and certification throughout the state of South Carolina
CTE- Business, Sales, & Finance
N’Dugu Kwa N’Dugu will train the participating young men in the nuances of building a personal business from the grass-root level, hiring employees, and payroll; to establishing and maintaining a personal business. The young men will learn the aspects of daily operations, deadlines, business culture, etiquette, and progressive communication skills.
After establishing and maintaining a “Garden to the Table Restaurant” the young men will establish a sales and marketing team that will learn and apply aggressive marketing strategies to sell the fresh fruits and vegetables to local vendors and in their open-air market. This will be a crossroads venture with the young men that decide the business path. The two pathways will work in conjunction with each other to maximize sales capabilities in order to maintain the facilities, equipment, and business needs.
This pathway will focus on the financial development needs of the individual and the overarching business of N’Dugu Academy. The Academy’s needs will serve as the measurable laboratory that allows for an annual capstone with a CPA and their business team
CTE - Manufacturing & Logistics
The young men will have an opportunity to work in Planning, managing, and performing the processing of materials into intermediate or final products and related professional and technical support activities such as production planning and control, maintenance, and manufacturing/process engineering.
The young men will have the opportunity to acquire driver’s training leading to a Certified Driving Licensing to operate and multi-wheeled transport vehicle and Material Handling Equipment. Within this pathway, they will be involved in dispatching and “on-call” single point deliveries. Upon completion, they will secure their CDL. For those that meet the minimum qualification will have the opportunity to secure a Hazardous Material Certification to make them marketable when seeking a career
CTE -Agriculture
While living on a functioning farm, N’Dugu Academy young men will work their various fruits and vegetables, animals, and farm duties as a means of developing life skills. They will learn to grow the seasonal and rotational crop to be assessed for quality to sell in their own “open-air market” and to local vendors. The proceeds will be managed by the financial pathways and distributed on a schedule for the participant to teach personal money management.
CTE - Hospitality
Participating young will learn the art of fine dining to running a fast-food restaurant. This pathway will prepare the participants in food preparation and sanitation, table setting, event planning, and Culinary Logistics.
CTE - Human services
Focuses on preparing young men for employment in career pathways that relate to families and human needs such as counseling and mental health services, family and community services, personal care services, and consumer services.
CTE -Construction
Provides students with classroom instruction and hands-on experiences in various aspects of the construction industry. Students will gain knowledge and apply it to the following areas: carpentry, electrical, masonry, and plumbing. A strong emphasis is placed on safety, career and college readiness, career exploration, and construction competencies.
Daily Life Involvement
Ndugu staff members will meet with families of the young men using a “Rubric of Needs©” to determine the day-to-day social, emotional, academic, and cultural needs to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure the program is meeting the needs of young men. Parents/Guardians will determine the extent of participation in projects/programs that the young men will need. A “Rubric of Needs©” will specify how each Ndugu staff member will be assisted using as much information access that is allowed by the custodial unit. Written permission will be secured from the parent/guardian in order to receive the progress of all young men throughout our program.
Civic Involvement and Economic Awareness
All of the young men will participate in scholastic enhancing programs to increase their knowledge of American and Global Civics systems. The end state of this program is to increase their participation in the political process through education, non-partisan civic involvement. They will also participate in entrepreneurial programs and a practicum that will generate an interest from building Home-based Businesses, Personal Money Management, and home/business economics. Each of the young men will be given the opportunity to present a project idea through a sole proprietorship, partnerships, for-profits, and not-for-profits ownership. This will be conducted through academic real-world activities.
Civic Integration
Working with the local municipalities to allow opportunities for the young men to work within local offices. They will attend State and/or Federal tours of government-in-action to allow for a deeper appreciation for the political process. Interactive symposiums, summits, think-tanks and community meetings with local authorities and Social Action Groups to create will an open dialogue from the elders to the young men to build cohesiveness and understanding.
Civic Interaction
Strategize and organize programing around Voter Registration, Constitution Law Education Blocks and citizenship responsibilities to their State and Local Government. Creating age appropriate events that will enhance the viability of living in the “Era of Social Justice.”
Rite of Passage
All of the young men will participate in a three (3) day Rite of Passage that will involve “Ndugu mzees” and select men identified by the custodial units to participate in tests and lessons that will build mental and physical resilience, emotional connection, social awareness and a transitional reading and affirmation that allows all participants to commit to the betterment of their communities, homes, and families. The process will be only opened to approve persons by the organization and the custodial units. All young men will graduate from their Rite of Passage in front of their community, family, and peers; having taken on a new level of commitment and responsibility.