Project Understanding Tutoring Fund

How does a 3rd-grader still learning the alphabet transform to an 8th-grader who loves Science class and can't wait for High School?  Project Understanding transforms lives and community. 

This 2 minute 45 second movie will change your life too!

Project Understanding gives neighbors a hand up not a handout...
• Housing the Homeless 
• Feeding the Hungry 
• Tutoring Children
...to help each person reach their highest attainable level of independence,
...to help break generational poverty.

Program Objectives

Project Understanding breaks generational poverty through Tutoring Centers and related services. Our Tutoring students are struggling academically, many of them as English Learner Students.  Once students fall behind in Elementary School, they are unlikely to catch up in Middle School or High School.  Their academic future is prematurely canceled.  In addition, many of our students come from families where there is no one who can explain or model a vocational future based on an academic foundation.  We empower students to fulfill their academic potential so that they can make informed choices about their adult vocations.

Program Background

Project Understanding breaks generational poverty by providing free weekly tutoring to hundreds of disadvantaged children.

Tutoring Centers of Project Understanding provide extra instruction for students grades K-5 with volunteer tutors in one-to-one interaction.  Project Understanding currently operates 11 Tutoring Centers throughout Ventura County, in El Rio, Oxnard, Santa Paula, Saticoy and Ventura.  The Tutoring Centers operate for two hours after school, generally 3:00-5:00 pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  Tutoring Centers function in a variety of facilities: public school, public library, church, synagogue, low-income housing project, and in a doctor's office conference room.

Teachers recommend students to our Tutoring Program, and we provide an hour of free Tutoring to more than 300 children each week. The Tutors are volunteers, ranging from High School students through retirees. Adults undergo a criminal background check to ensure that the students remain safe.  High School students are approved as Tutors on the basis of two letters of recommendation from their school staff or faculty members.

The Tutoring Program is managed by Maria Gonzalez, a public school educator who works half-time with Project Understanding.  Under Ms. Gonzalez's leadership, Project Understanding has more than doubled the number of Tutoring Centers in operation from 5 to 11.  Each Tutoring Center has a Site Coordinator, one of the most rewarding, volunteer positions we have.

Outcomes

Last year, the Tutoring children’s school teachers (not our Tutors) provided us with end-of-year reports for the Tutorees. According to their teachers, 98% of the children demonstrated improvement in academics and self-esteem and were more open to participation in the classroom.

How Your Donation Will Help

With your support, Project Understanding can expand our network of Tutoring Centers.

For example, with $50,000, Project Understanding is providing almost 11,000 hours of free, relational Tutoring to needy children at 11 Tutoring Centers this school year.  The “street value” of this instruction is $475,000.  That means that we can multiply your investment at almost a 10:1 ratio!

With more Tutoring Centers strategically located, we can transforms lives and community. Though our goal through this GoFundMe campaign is modest, we believe that every dollar counts when investing in these children and their success.

Together we can bend the arc of these children’s futures.  We can help them succeed in school and reach their potential.