Native American After-School Program

Greetings from the NAAF Staff, Volunteers, Students, and Parents!

 It’s already here! The 2017/2018 school year has begun, and we are ready to go. This year we will be running the Gu Vo Academic After-School Program in a beautiful new facility, the Al Jek Recreation Center, in the remote village of Menager’s Dam, Gu Vo. We have partnered with the Al Jek Recreation Center, and will be combining our efforts to serve twice as many students by providing quality tutoring in math, reading, and S.T.E.M. subjects. We will also continue to empower out students to avoid the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and violence, through our Too Good for Drugs and Violence curriculum. Our partnership with the USDA continues, and we will be providing healthy and delicious snacks and suppers each day, and modeling a healthy lifestyle and diet. Perhaps most importantly, we will continue to provide lessons, stories, and arts and crafts that help to preserve the cultural heritage and language of the Tohono O’odham Nation.

Last year was the most successful year we have had yet for our program. For the sixth year in a row, none of the students enrolled in our programs dropped out of school, or out of the program. We consider this a huge success in an area where a dropout rate of over 50% is the norm. We are extremely proud to report that the District of Gu Vo had more graduating high school seniors than any other district in the T.O. Nation. This is solid proof that our programs are working, and are providing a valuable and much needed service to the deserving people of Gu Vo. Education is the key to opening up more opportunity to the at risk youth of this remote area, and the youth are stepping up to the plate to make it happen. We couldn’t be more proud!

We would especially like to mention two of the graduating seniors from our program; River and Verland. Both River and Verland graduated last year, and are going on to college and bright futures. Both of these young men have been a big help in our program, and to the community in general. As members of the Gu Vo Youth Council, they have represented their peers faithfully in helping to make the important decisions that dictate the policies of the District. River and Verland have also been great role models to our youth, and serve as mentors in both our After-School program and our Summer Adventure Program. Kudos River and Verland! We are so proud of you both, as well as the other graduates from Gu Vo.

Your support is what makes these successes possible, and we are endlessly grateful for all that you do. Every donation counts, and goes towards supplies, curriculum, healthy food, educational field trips, and the hiring of experienced and dedicated tutors and program managers. Thank you so much for all you do! We are looking forward to another great year!

Sincere thanks,
Jeremy Paxton, Director of Development
Native American Advancement Foundation (NAAF)