Declaring Independence: How Are We Preparing Young Minds for the Real World?
A parent has many roles, from feeding and clothing little ones to teaching manners and good behavior, displaying a sense of proper values, and enjoying the shared moments at a park, ballgame, or party.
However, the most significant parental task is preparing a child for adulthood. How can this swaddled, helpless 8-lb. baby grow into an independent adult who contributes positively to society?
That’s a tall order for any parent, but healthy support systems make a difference. Good schools matter. Adults who exhibit a strong work ethic and commitment to excellence profoundly impact youth.
HireSmart VE Is Always Available for His Family and Profession
Think of the power of water currents. Now, think of your community and its environment for youth. What direction is that water flowing? Are kids aided by the flow or hurt by it? How do you get that water to help carry them and not push against their efforts?
My husband, Mark, and I started HireSmart Cares to help create a positive flow toward success for the youth in our community, and we aim to spread that as far as we can.
A call to action: HireSmart Cares aims to help youth realize their potential
We want today’s youth to be tomorrow’s independent, successful leaders, so we’re committed to doing all we can to help them get there. HireSmart Cares’ mission isn’t to give away money. It’s not a give-a-man-a-fish endeavor but a “teach-a-man-to-fish” vision. Funding is directed toward helping children and teens help themselves, opening their eyes to new career possibilities and skill development.
For instance, HireSmart provided a $50,000 grant to expand our local high school’s agriculture barn so students who don’t live on a farm can raise livestock at the school and gain skills for ag-related careers.
We go into local high schools and talk with students about how to interview for a job, maintain a personal budget, and approach entrepreneurship. We finance a wide range of workforce development initiatives, from funding a high school drone program to construction classes for elementary school kids and seed money for youth to start a business.
HireSmart Founders Talk With Teens About Being Smart With That Paycheck
We don’t want to see the next generation of adults dependent on government handouts. So we’re on board with anything that helps youth develop skills and move toward financial independence. We want them to be proud and empowered, so we do all we can to promote workforce development and ag-related education.
HireSmart Career Assistance — Troy’s Story
We also care about the children of our Filipino virtual employees (VEs) and provide scholarships to their kids to get a high-quality private school education in the Philippines, where public schools struggle to match the resources available at private institutions.
Our VE moms and dads are thrilled with this opportunity to better their child’s life, and we’re happy, too. We see the joy on their faces and recognize how meaningful their kids are to them, and we wish to expand the reach of that program as far as possible.
HireSmart Filipino Scholarships: Cristina’s Story
“I am forever grateful for this scholarship,” said Cristina, a five-year HireSmart employee. “Education here in the Philippines is pretty expensive, and my son is the most important person in my life, giving him a quality education and providing him with all his needs is what matters to me. I was able to provide it to him because of HireSmart. This scholarship is a really great help for my family. And thank you for helping us Filipino virtual assistants, and we hope this opportunity will continue.”
We’re serving 25 VE families this year and wish to increase that next year.
Whenever a client hires a new virtual employee through HireSmart, we allocate $100 from that contract for our Cares programs and match that $100. So all of our clients are invested in these efforts. Thank you! Truly. We see a big, broad mission in our work: to help make the world better for the next generation, and you are part of that!
If you feel led to help us help kids with additional donations, we assure you that the money will empower today’s youth to be financially independent adults who care for their children and carry that torch forward from one generation to the next.
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Click here to donate to Cares, or click here to learn how our virtual employees can help you manage your workflow. I’d love a chance to chat and hear how you’re doing! I’d also like your ideas on how we can do more.
Cheers!
Anne + The HireSmart Team