Founded in 2000, SOLS 24/7 is a youth run program that offers a comprehensive two-year training and boarding program on life-skills education for disadvantaged and at-risk youths from poor communities. Providing equal opportunities for boys and girls, the program has made it a policy to accept the same number of male and female students. In the recent graduation, 52 percent of those who received their diplomas/certificates are girls.
SOLS 24/7 builds its programs from the grassroots level. It partners with local NGOs to ensure its sustainability and smooth management transition. It advocates the Science of SLife systems, learning modules developed and successfully proven to improve the lives of the youth-participants.
In Cambodia, SOLS24/7 became the largest
non-formal education provider in Cambodia, establishing 23 self-sustainable provincial centers taking in as much as 2,500 students a year. These training facilities sustain themselves by giving the youths responsibility in the preparation of meals and board requirements. These centers also contribute to the community by becoming involved in the delivery of basic social services such as medicines, carton food (food in cans), clothes, and carry out public awareness programs. SOLS 24/7 helps the youths and the local communities establish a network of social services.
As of 2006, the program has educated at least 22,000 youths. SOLS 24/7 is currently scaling up operations by continued leadership trainings and expanding its programs in other countries. |