The African Young Men’s Group is a dedicated program at Asanty Community focused on fostering a strong sense of identity, respect, and cultural pride among young men in the New Americans from Africa community. We provide a supportive and safe environment where they can navigate the complexities of a new culture while embracing the strength of their heritage.
Promoting Self-Esteem and Respect
Creating Safe Spaces
Instilling Cultural Values
Providing Guidance
Our Summer Program in Action
The African Young Men’s Summer Program 2025 was an inspiring and transformative experience for all participants. Held over several weeks, the camp focused on character development, teamwork, responsibility, and personal growth, all while offering a safe and engaging environment for young African men to connect, learn, and grow.
- Soccer and Physical Development
Soccer was a central part of the camp experience. The boys played regularly, developing not only their athletic skills but also discipline, teamwork, and endurance. A special highlight was their participation in a week-long training session with Ambassadors Football, where they received professional-level coaching. Through this program, they were encouraged to grow not only as skilled soccer players but also as men who lead with integrity on and off the field. - Reading and Literacy Engagement
Campers engaged in daily reading sessions aimed at improving literacy and fostering a love for learning. These sessions helped develop comprehension and communication skills, reinforcing the importance of education. - Story Sharing and Self-Esteem Building
Campers participated in guided conversations where they shared personal stories. These sessions created a strong sense of community, increased self-esteem, and encouraged advocacy and emotional awareness. The boys learned to value their voices and experiences. - Personal Responsibility and Life Skills
Throughout the camp, participants were held accountable for their actions, learning the importance of owning up to mistakes, cleaning up after themselves, and respecting shared spaces. These lessons in responsibility were essential to their development as young men of character. - Respect and Positive Behavior
A key theme of the camp was respect—particularly for women, themselves, and one another. Campers were taught to use their strength to help others and their words to uplift and encourage their peers. This focus on mutual respect and service helped shape their understanding of masculinity rooted in kindness and integrity.
Final Reflection and Recognition
On the last day of camp, the young men gathered for a special reflection session where they shared what they had learned and how they had grown. It was a powerful moment of community and celebration. Each participant received a Certificate of Completion, presented by IU13 Patricia Barnes, who offered final words of encouragement, reminding the boys to take their education seriously, strive for excellence, and continue growing into responsible, respectful young men.
Bike safety
As students continue to resettle in our very welcoming city of Lancaster, many have discovered a love for biking as both recreation and transportation. To support them and ensure their safety, a special bike safety workshop was held under the leadership of Pastor Glenn Sauder. Pastor Glenn, together with his wife Brenda, are experienced cyclists who ride a tandem bike and bring with them an impressive biking history—he has already logged 97,000 recorded miles with a goal of reaching 100,000 next year. His accomplishments include riding across the country from West to East, while he and Brenda have completed a tandem ride from border to border, North to South. With such experience, there could be no better leaders to teach about bike safety and bike maintenance. Adding to the success of the event, our friends Adrian and Bryanna Weaver joined in as enthusiastic assistants and cheerleaders, making the workshop not only informative but also full of encouragement and community spirit.
The students were gifted with bike repair kits, and each neighborhood received a bike pump.
Cleats sizing event
A cleat fitting event was recently held to support the young men who had been struggling with soccer shoes that didn’t fit properly. Many of them had unknowingly been purchasing medium-width cleats instead of the wide-width sizes they needed. To address this, the group traveled in a van driven by Adrian Weaver, an enthusiastic soccer fan who was glad to help. At the local mall, the proprietor of Shoe Carnivore warmly welcomed them and carefully measured each young man’s feet. This simple but important step revealed the sizing issue and provided the young men with the knowledge they need to select the right cleats moving forward, ensuring both comfort and better performance on the field.
