Youth Hostel Expands its Programs

Judith Alpuche

But beyond the ultimate fate of workers at the Youth Hostel, the primary concern is the health, well-being and safety of the institution’s residents. Many of them come from troubled homes and untenable family situations and the Hostel is the last resort before the far less welcoming Wagner’s Youth Facility on the grounds of the Central Prison five miles east. The winds of change and transition have blown through the compound, starting with a new female dorm. But C.E.O. Alpuche told us that it goes much further than that.

Judith Alpuche, C.E.O., Ministry of Human Development

“We have been pushing forward with our programming, lots of training for our staff. In terms of programming, lot of programming, we have pushed through these plans that we have. Having weekend programs, having children completely engaged, ensuring that we have robust education and alternative education programs because that’s been one of the issues we have worked on very diligently. There are some students within that facility that can go to school in the community and we encourage that when possible. And then there are certain children, because they are flight risk or because of their legal status or even their individual needs, are unable to come off of campus. So we have always had educational programs but we have been pushing forward to look at not only from an academic or literacy point of view, but also looking at skills building, because for this population, it is very, very important. So we have our agriculture program that is well underway. We are really pushing this to have a better sustainability also for the institution. Very shortly, we will introduce metal work and building technology, etcetera.”

According to the Alpuche, the Youth Cadet Corps program is now a partner program with the Hostel.