DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — Twenty-four young entrepreneurs are set to leave on an educational holiday to Jamaica in June, provided they can raise enough funds for the trip.
They are participants in a teen after-school program called POOF (Planning Our Own Future).
“We’re a safe space,” says POOF founder Destiny Alexander, “We’re an entrepreneurial program. We teach financial literacy, world travel, and life readiness. We’re in the world travel phase right now.”
So they spent most of Saturday washing cars and serving fish meals to supporters of the program’s mission and a planned trip to Jamaica.
“I think it keeps kids out of trouble, it gets them more involved in fun things, not violence and stuff like that,” Virginia Taber said as she waited for her car to be washed.
Alexander told ABC11 that as part of their world tour, the young participants learned about Jamaican culture, cuisine and more in preparation for their five-day stay, which is scheduled to depart on June 17.
“Twenty of them have never been outside the country before,” she said, “so I feel like a proud mom to be able to take them out of the country for the first time.”
Mobile car wash owner Kelvin Williams has a son who attends POOF and was part of the crew that handed over cars after they had been thoroughly cleaned. Williams donated the equipment he used on Saturday to the fundraiser organized by Alexander, a former classmate.
“They’re doing a great job,” he said as he watched the young men repair the car. “They’re just learning something and having fun.”
Plus, with growing donations of time, talent and money from other local small business owners who promoted their products and services on the day, POOF is now asking for help to cross the fundraising finish line.
“Please go to our website, https://www.poofcenter.com/, there’s a donation button there,” Alexander said.
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