Asian Youth Services is an after school tutoring program for students ages 5 to 20, located in Uptown Chicago. Serving between 40 and 70 youths, with increased attendance during special events, the children are primarily of Cambodian descent with a few participants of Laotian and Vietnamese origins. Eagerly coming to AYS to learn everyday skills in subjects such as math, Spanish or history, the children come from families with parents who have had no formal schooling. Almost all of these children receive public aid and rely on AYS for assistance beyond academic tutoring. AYS has become a second home, a safe and comfortable place for children to learn and interact with other children. Many families of AYS participants are first and second generation immigrants - many of them lived through the Southeast Asian Holocaust.
Living in an environment where gangs, drugs, high school dropouts, and teen pregnancy are prominent, AYS provides a safe and gentle atmosphere of warmth and positive regard for the children.

AYS serves as a concerned and supportive parent. We care for the youths unconditionally and act as a protection to prevent them from engaging in gang activeity. These children desperately need guidance and protection, and AYS attempts to provide this. Committed to caring for and connecting our youths with opportunities for success, we aid them in finding a positive and empowered place in mainstream society.
  
  		• A drop-in center open six days a week - We have established a safe, supervised place for youth to "hang-out" and get help with school work.
  		• Hot, nutritious meals - Food is provided for about 40-50 youths after school and on Saturdays.
  		• Meeting a variety of practical needs - We supply bus fares, lunch money, and field trip fees. Last year, we provided schoolbags filled with school supplies to 75 children and 40 children with new shoes, uniforms, and clothing.
  		• Promoting academic excellence - Volunteer tutors from local academic institutions such as Northwestern and through our Saturday morning reading program help AYS kids build relationships with healthy role models. Our efforts have proved fruitful. National Honor Society has honored two of our students. And we have attained scholarships for 17 students in private schools such as St. Luke's Academy, St. Scholastica, and Madonna High School.
  		• Full day summer programming - We organize art projects, leadership training programs, and hold focus on non-violent conflict resolution skills.

     

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