H.Y.P.E. (Helping Youth Pursue Excellence) After School Program began in 2002 with only the support of Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church and Clemson Extension. In January of 2005 the M.H. Newton Family Life Enrichment Center entered into an agreement to provide an after school program with Sumter School District 17. The plan was to choose 7 students from each elementary and middle school in the district. Our goal was to have new, first-year teachers work with these children after school. However this plan failed. In August of 2005, working with school principals, guidance counselors, teachers and parents, students were selected to start participating in the H.Y.P.E. program. By August of 2006 H.Y.P.E. had 150 students enrolled in the program with 35 children on the waiting list.
Today the program has a total of 10 sites which serve children in the city and county of Sumter. Prior to the Pandemic, H.Y.P.E served approximately 450 students.
H.Y.P.E. (Helping Youth Pursue Excellence) After School Program began in 2002 with only the support of Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church and Clemson Extension. In January of 2005 the M.H. Newton Family Life Enrichment Center entered into an agreement to provide an after school program with Sumter School District 17. The plan was to choose 7 students from each elementary and middle school in the district. Our goal was to have new, first-year teachers work with these children after school. However this plan failed. In August of 2005, working with school principals, guidance counselors, teachers and parents, students were selected to start participating in the H.Y.P.E. program. By August of 2006 H.Y.P.E. had 150 students enrolled in the program with 35 children on the waiting list.
