NEWS
Test to see how the text would look. Welcome to the first ever Teen Spirit website. Over time, this website will become rich with content that are aimed towards the youth of The ARC to keep them up-to-date and active within the group. This website will also provide an invitation to a fellowship whereby any youth can join us at the

WHO WE ARE
We are a multicultural church of young people in the ARC aged between 13-19 years that celebrate our differences and see the best of each other.
Our primary purpose is to live for Christ and be an example and hope to the rest of the youth in our community by bringing a positive change to our society. We do not make the decisions for the youth but rather provide them with quality information, options and knowledge for them to make the decisions they need to make.

MISSION STATEMENT

"TODAY'S YOUTH, TOMORROW'S LEADERS"

OUR VISION
We believe that the young people in our community can live positive lives and achieve their dreams through the transforming power of Jesus Christ. We believe that the young people have what it takes to be in positions of authority in our government, community and be influential men and women in business, medicine and Arts and all other departments. We believe that every child matters.

TARGET AREAS

• BE HEALTHY

Teen-Spirit has continued to give and create a healthy atmosphere for young people to develop in different aspects namely:

Physical

• We do have a gym at the Earlham Grove Youth Centre. Though still lacking some equipment, the gym has provided the young people safe and healthy place to train and stay healthy.  The youth have basketball and football games especially in the summer.
  
  
• Our other activities during the year including swimming, ice-skating.

Mental
Teen-Spirit is a family oriented group that endeavours to make every youth involved feel part of the group and this can be a hard mental battle for some. As a team, we organise bonding activities that help build the young people and teach them how to co-exist with one another peacefully through:

• We meet as a group every Sunday at the ARC church 3:00-4:30pm, Thursday 7:00pm and the youth have daily access to the Earlham Grove Youth Centre were they can spend time together and play pool.



• We take them on educational trips such as camping in areas they are unfamiliar with which has strongly taught them to work as a team and depend on each other through difficult situations. Many have greatly benefited from these trips.

Emotional
One of the biggest causes of crime and self destruction in society as a whole is emotional instability, which may or may not be self inflected. As teen spirit God has brought us youth from all background and with all kinds of emotional problems such as Abuse (sexual, physical, and emotional) financial or loneliness.

• Having lost one of our own (R.I.P Charlotte Polius) we are doing our best to help young people have a full and worthy life through positive teaching.

OUR TARGET AREA

Sexual Health
We believe and teach youth in teen spirit the values and importance of abstaining from sex until marriage (one faithful partner)

• We invite qualified doctors for seminars who provide medical facts and statistics of sex and its problems if abused such as STI’s teenage pregnancies etc...



• In the 6 years Teen Spirit has existed, Only 2 teenagers have become pregnant with over 40 youth staying safe and pursuing their studies and life desires.



• We believe that safe sex is NO sex before marriage.



• We believe and teach that sex can wait but careers and professions can’t.



• We encourage healthy interactions between boys and girls and encourage group activities that help boys and girls to see each other’s value beyond sex.



• We have an active GIRL TALK workshop were adult experienced women on the leadership team meet regularly with the girls and have honest and confidential interaction meetings were female sexuality is discussed in detail. This is continuing to add value to the girls who have in the past been reduced to just sex toys by MTV and other inappropriate movies.

STAY SAFE

• Earlham Grove youth centre has become a refuge and safe place for young people who would have rather been on the streets causing trouble to come and have a game of pool or Playstation with others in a peaceful place.



• The centre boosts of a gym which is up and running were young people can spend quality time improving their physical health which give them confidence on the streets.



• Being a very musically responsive generation today, we are in a process of building a studio were the young people can spend most of their free time learning how to make and write music .We already have Truly blessed a group of 3 young men from Teen Spirit about to launch their first CD-album when all the funds are realised.



• Music is in the very fabric of the youth today. With the studio in place, we believe we can reach masses of young people through recording anti-violent lyrics and encourage more youth to put their message out affordably



• Last year we started STOP THE VIOLENCE an event we intend to host annually that highlights the dangers of crime and violence in our society. Having lost a member of Teen-Spirit last year (R.I.P Charlotte Polius), we are making a statement in Newham that we hope will grow wider to the nation a whole that Violence is not cool BUT cruel.



• STOP THE VIOLENCE 2005 had an attendance of over 500 young people who got to hear and see the damage and pain that 1 careless act of madness can cause permanently to families friends and loved one. This has seen a major growth in TEEN SPIRT members who have continued to find help and encouragement to quit the violent life as a whole.



• This year, we are expecting to even reach a big audience of at least 1000 youth over two events planned. The 1st being on 8/4/06 at The ARC church and the 1st of July 2006 at Sarah Bonnel School. Flyers, T-shirts, Key holders, banner. Advertisements and the media (BBC, local press) will be there. We are still raising the funds to support this life-changing project once again.



• We plan to start Self-defence classes when we get big enough premises and the funds to run the classes. We believe that every child should have an ability to free them selves and run for help or at least live after being attacked. In 1 year alone, we lost one youth, 2 stabbings but survived and countless mugging that has seen youth give up their property helplessly. We believe through these classes, we can make a difference.

ENJOY AND ACHIEVE

• We encourage youth to study hard in school and help them talk about their ambitions and desires in life. This has helped most of them finish college and we continue to see them going to good and first choice universities.


• We enjoy trips that are both academic and social that has continued to be part of our annual calendar plans.



• We celebrate individual and group success and encourage and support each other through moments of failing. We believe in a GOD of second third and fourth chance and we do the same for one another.



• The planned recording studio will give the youth an opportunity to improve their skills while interacting and enjoying their work.

MAKE A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION

• Part of our future plan and vision is to train and encourage young people to be leaders at whatever level or group they may be involved in.



• Teen-Spirit is about identifying each individuals potential and developing that talent.



• Working together on projects such as ‘STOP THE VIOLENCE’ has brought and continues to bring a sense of responsibility to the young people involved.

• Most of the Teen-Spirit members are in Education (School / college). We believe that education is very important as it gives young people an opportunity to work and support them selves. Education boosts the self-confidence of those that continue to socialise through the different academic stages.



• Some of the Teen-Spirit members are in employment at the moment.



• However our future goal is to have links with employment centres and community groups that will help young people to find jobs and help those that train or have finished studying to easily and quickly get employed. This will help to reduce idol time that accounts for most criminal activity or self-destruction.



• We hope to start Training courses in different fields such as carpentry, knitting, baking and Self defence classes as soon as we get facilities that we can use.