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A Message from the Director
of the National Amachi
Program
Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr.
As the
son of an incarcerated father I learned firsthand the
importance of mentoring. It changed the outcome of my life
from
an
almost certain trip to prison to becoming Mayor of the
fourth largest city in the country. So "who knows but what
God
can
bring us through these children. I hope you will help us
help these children.
Amachi
is a Nigerian word which means
Who knows but what God has brought us
through this Child
America�s most
isolated and at risk children are the estimated 7.3 million
children who have one or both parents under some form of
state or federal supervision. Without effective
intervention 70 percent of these children will likely follow
their parents path into jail or prison. The
Amachi mentoring
program was developed to provide them with a different path
by establishing the consistent presence of loving, caring
people of faith in their lives.
The
Amachi
program has achieved phenomenal growth since its founding
five years ago. It has been a documented model and catalyst
for a new movement that has helped rescue at least 30,000
children from a highly probable trip to prison.
Amachi
has not only had a beneficial impact on children, but also
on the churches, causing many of them to include outreach as
part of their ministries. There are about 3,000
congregations involved with these children across the
country. In many states, the
Amachi program has brought together the corrections
systems with faith-based groups and youth-serving
Amachi
made its first match in Philadelphia in March 2001. The
Philadelphia program has served more than 2,000 children
since its inception. Today, there are 240 mentoring
children of prisoner programs across the country, which have
served more than 30,000 children of prisoners; 10,000 of
these children were placed in relationships in the last
year. Sixty-five percent of the matches last more than one
year, 42 percent for more than two years, and 21 percent
have been matched for four years or more. Texas recently
became the first state to fund a statewide program when
Governor Rick Perry established
Amachi Texas.
Interest in establishing programs has spread internationally
to Jamaica, the Virgin Islands, the United Kingdom, and
Nigeria.
Amachi
Mentor Makes a Difference
Although many
teens are convinced that they know everything and are more
interested in hanging out with their friends than
maintaining a relationship with a mentor, this is not the
case for 14-year-old Justin. Justin was matched in 2001 when
Amachi Philadelphia
first began making matches. He doesn't believe he will ever
outgrow his mentor and said he wants to stay with him as
long as he can. He's a good role model, and he treats me
like his son, said Justins. Justins four brothers ages 10,
11, 13 and 18 years old, also were matched with mentors in
2001.
Justin and his
four brothers have lived with their aunt since he was a
baby. He said having a mentor who serves as a male role
model has been a critical component of his development. He
shows me how a man is supposed to act and be, said Justin.
Its important having a man to talk to about problems that I
have that I cant talk to a woman about, he added.
Prior to being
matched with a mentor, Justin said that he was not involved
in any extracurricular activities outside of his church
choir. In addition to the choir, now he is in Boy Scouts and
mock trial, and is a junior deacon. Justin said his mentor,
who is also a Scoutmaster, was the first to introduce him to
Boy Scouts. Justin has been active with this organization
since he was matched.
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