CYD is an after-school, youth development program that promotes education and hard work, helping students to break the cycle of generational poverty and create a brighter future for themselves. CYD began in 1994 as a summer camp for 20 students living in the Perry Homes area, one of Atlanta’s poorest communities. CYD quickly evolved into a year-round, second home and support system for children and their families.
Our students come from communities filled with joblessness, crime, high school dropouts, drug use and teenage pregnancy. The majority of CYD families live well below the poverty level and 80% are headed by single parents who did not complete high school.
CYD provides our students with the support they need to break this cycle. The results of our program speak for themselves: 100% of students who have completed our program graduate high school; 94% begin a post-secondary education; and 75% who enrolled in a post-secondary education have either graduated or are still enrolled. Also, last year 40% of our alums gave back to CYD by volunteering their time and resources to our current students.
CYD changes the odds!
CYD programming provides for boys and girls of all ages!