Self-Reliance Clubs
‘We believe that the struggle itself is the instrument through which people get out of poverty’ – Ismael Hernandez, FVI Founder
Our belief is that society thrives when people become active participants in the building of their own lives and are able to become individually sustainable.
The Self-Reliance Clubs exist to promote self-sufficiency by educating the next generation to understand that they are the champions of their own lives. Through their own initiative, ingenuity, and hard work, at-risk children will realize that they have the power to determine the direction of their future.
Self-Reliance Clubs are set up in schools to provide at-risk under-privileged students with the opportunity to work in various entrepreneurship initiatives, learn financial literacy, banking literacy, and gain self-esteem and a sense of individual freedom. The ‘money’ earned can then be used to purchase school supplies, equipment, and clothing.
Urban Farming is the enterprise chosen by this SRC Club.
SRC Members receiving their earnings & honor at the Rewards Ceremony
The Self-Reliance Clubs promote economic independence and are intended to be simple and easily fit into the school’s activities. There are numerous possibilities for at-risk student participants to gain financial literacy while earning money for supplies by performing meaningful, measureable tasks in their school, such as:
- Participation in approved work to improve grades
- Tutoring younger students or peers
- School and community clean-up and beautification projects
- Helping teachers or school staff with age-appropriate tasks
- Planning and implementing students' ideas to improve their school and/or community
- Micro-finance projects
- Gardening/farming
- Recycling/sustainability
The possibilities are unlimited and can be as big as the students’ dreams! For more information on how you can help, click here or call (239) 240-9393.