STARS VIRTUAL WORLD MODEL

 

BACKGROUND

The World Youth Ministries, Inc. “S.T.A.R.S. Youth Development Program (S.T.A.R.S., YDP) with its Virtual World” Model Development Program (S.T.A.R.S. VWMDP) was established in response to over a quarter century of youth ministry, with countless hours of interaction with youth, parents, community leaders and other adults alike, expressing concerns, about the pressures and temptations of the youth of today. Concerns of; the rapid increase in serious juvenile crime, high rate recidivism, increasing drop-out rate, out of control teen sex/teen pregnancy and the growing number of young people identified as "at-risk", these factors dictate to us, the need to invest in today’s youth for a brighter tomorrow. The S.T.A.R.S. Virtual World Model is proposed to address these critical issues which threaten the wellbeing of our youth today. The S.T.A.R.S. VWMDP is designed to emphasize cultural and academic diversity, while implementing creative programs and activities, addressing the above mentioned critical areas of concern.

 

Applicants will be recruited from a broad range of cultural, ethnic and economic backgrounds including: referral’s from court system, middle schools, churches, and occasionally by parent/guardian application request. S.T.A.R.S., with its diversity of training and perspective, will serve youth of primarily low economic, educational and social areas, including; at-risk juveniles, children of incarcerated parents, and young people already involved in the juvenile justice system (15 of 25 of S.T.A.R.S. program participants selected annually). Participants will interface with caring individuals, who have been specifically selected, to provide the crucial elements that have been missing in the lives of so many of these troubled young people ... “a positive role model, Academic, Social and Spiritual guidance, with individualized encouragement to succeed”.

 

OUR MISSION

The World Youth Ministries S.T.A.R.S. VWMDP has a trifold mission: (1) to utilize an interdisciplinary and multicultural curriculum, through which students will obtain both advisory and/or professional, academic, leisure and practical life education training, mentoring and experience in areas and fields of learning. (2) To promote community service, drop-out prevention and vocational motivation through Entrepreneurial and Economic Empowerment. (3) To create a “Virtual World” atmosphere of training, to serve as an opportunity to gain experience in making business and life decisions, while enhancing each participant’s motivation for life pathing and success.

 

S.T.A.R.S. Youth Development Program is designed to: enrich the daily lives of participants through family mentoring to encourage healthy family relationships, to combat juvenile delinquency by teaching social concepts, good citizenship, respect, responsibility and fairness all in a safe environment. Participants develop leadership skills, effective problem solving and conflict resolution techniques and how to work together as a team. Our approach is to provide every participant the opportunity, to learn and experience positive personal growth.

 

The WYM S.T.A.R.S Program and Curriculum

This program is designed to; create in the participant, a greater self awareness, encourage each participant to develop a sense of self motivation to seek knowledge, understanding and control of his/her behaviors, while seeking to reflect strong values, high moral character and a Love for God and Country. Our programs will focuses on establishing an opportunity of expressions for its participants through public speaking, writing and through cooperative interaction within the community, while fostering the exhibition of wholesome family and community values through planned program curriculum/activities, the arts, friendly competition and community fellowship. Participants will be more acutely focused as we create a setting in which each may obtain, mentoring as well as, hands on and real world experience in a virtual world atmosphere.

 

Youth Management, Community Organizations & Advocacy

This unit is intended to provide students with practical skills related to developing brotherhood, community caring, while working in hands-on, classroom and group discussions settings, addressing issues related to one on one interaction, conflict resolution, entrepreneurial development and implementation. Students will have the opportunity to explore issues related to working in individual (with mentor) and/or group environment. This unit will include a mandatory community service component.

 

THE S.T.A.R.S. Participant

Upon successful completion of the core curriculum courses and units of the WYM S.T.A.R.S. Program, efforts are being made, as it is our intent that participants will be eligible for a paid 4 year scholarship (*tuition and books only) upon successful acceptance, to any State School in the State of Florida University System. Those accepted for the S.T.A.R.S. program, will gain valuable experience in a virtual world setting. As part of the learning process, participants shall be required to attend weekly meetings and submit weekly journals detailing their experience. Lastly, during the course of their participation, students are required to attend daily meetings (Monday – Friday) during time S.T.A.R.S. program is in session (June 1st thru 30th annually). These meetings are group meetings with all program participants 1st meeting in common units for “Group” discussion, then breaking into their assigned curriculum areas and individual mentoring sessions. The meetings are designed to provide participants with staff support while also providing the opportunity for all participants to come together to share their experiences and support each other. (We all win together…none willingly left behind)

 

STAFF SUPPORT

Throughout enrollment in the Program, students receive continuous support from the Program faculty, volunteer staff as well as that of assigned mentors/volunteers, per each unit of involvement. Should you have any question please feel free to contact the World Youth Ministries, Inc. S.T.A.R.S. Development Program:

 

Thomas E. Colbert, Executive Director S.T.A.R.S. Program Manager 2540 FL – GA Highway, Havana, FL 32333 (Mailing address) P.O. Box 5144 Tallahassee, FL 32314-5144 Phone: (850) 264-2492 wyminc@gmail.com