Youth Empowerment Project of Sharpsburg

YEP is a free, out-of-school-time program and summer enrichment camp of VOAPA in the borough of Sharpsburg. Since 1996, our program has provided participants with opportunities to counter their community’s struggle with fun and enriching summer and after-school experiences, field trips, tutoring, homework help, meals and caring adult supervision. We serve youth ages 5-18, from Sharpsburg and increasingly from Millvale and Etna. We aim to support the young people in our care with positive experiences that equip them to choose healthy behaviors, build positive relationships with their peers and succeed in school and in life. Our work is essential in helping children and teens achieve their full potential while in school and beyond.

YEP has four areas of focus: youth leadership, civic engagement, school and career readiness, and arts and the environment.

To register for our programs, click here.

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Main Street Screen Works

We have launched a student-run screen printing: Main Street Screen Works. This program, part of the High School Jobs Program, pays high school students an hourly wage to produce screen-printed items for clients. Students work with clients to achieve the desired design, then print and ship custom items all while learning valuable skills such as responsibility, punctuality and attention to detail. We are thankful to our valuable partners at Niagara Cares, Tippins Foundation and Camden Printworks for supporting this endeavor!

The Youth Empowerment Project of Sharpsburg encourages you to place your screen print orders with Main Street Screen Works. You can submit your own design, and pick from t-shirts, bags, aprons, and more. Your Main Street Screen Works order supports vulnerable students, as 100% of profits go to support the Youth Empowerment Project of Sharpsburg’s many programs.

If you have any questions or would like to place an order, please contact mainstreetscreenworks@voapa.org.

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Summer Youth Café

Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania’s Youth Empowerment Project of Sharpsburg (YEP) is a new Summer Food Service Sponsor for the Lower Allegheny Valley area. With Summer Youth Café sites in Sharpsburg, Millvale, and Blawnox, YEP is feeding youth ages 18 and under who need meals this summer. 

Funding for the Summer Youth Café provided by Niagara Cares, The Pittsburgh Foundation, No Kid Hungry, Wesbanco, and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

To learn more about the Summer Youth Café, including distribution sites and hours of operation, click here. 

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YEP Scholarship

Students participating in YEP have the opportunity to apply for the Youth Empowerment Project of Sharpsburg's scholarship.  The Scholarship fund was established in October 2019, to help committed students bridge the gap between loans and other awards received versus the overall cost of higher education.

To learn more about the Youth Empowerment Project of Sharpsburg Scholarship, click here.

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Volunteers Needed

Caring adult volunteers are needed for mentoring and tutoring in reading and math, offering homework help, supervising in the computer center (including working with robotics and programming in the Digital Corps program), and working with arts and crafts activities. Adult chaperones for field trips and community service activities are appreciated as well.

Additionally, we welcome student volunteers seeking community service hours for graduation. We will also continue to use student volunteers who need hours for court-ordered community service.

Service hours are Monday through Friday, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Field trips may be outside of those hours. 

For more information, call 412.782.5344.  The program is located at 1650 Main Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15215.

Niagara staff volunteering at YEP Christmas Party: Painting with a Twist and Gift Distribution