The Family Education Training Center of Hawaii, under the aegis of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, is offering enrichment and help building sustainable lifestyles for the whole family with its new Youth Advantage! Sustainable Sciences Internship and Family Advantage! Programs.
The Youth Advantage! internship program pairs middle school and high school students with UH college student mentors as they build a CSA, or community-supported agriculture program, from the ground up. This rewarding opportunity will help participants develop hands-on skills in agriculture, leadership, and entrepreneurship; contribute to feeding local families and the community, decrease stress and anxiety, and allow students to earn community service credits and build their resumes. It’s based at the Hale Tuahine Farm in Mānoa and meets throughout the semester.
The Family Advantage! Program, also at Hale Tuahine, helps families in all stages and circumstances to build sustainable lifestyles. Participant families, including keiki aged four and up, plant and maintain soil-based and hydroponic grow beds, prepare garden-fresh meals and eat them together, all the while developing effective communication skills and coping strategies. The parent group curriculum is based on Adlerian parenting principles emphasizing place in the community and achieving one’s goals, while the keiki enjoy fun arts and crafts, gardening, and cooking activities.