About Us
About Us
Imagine a world where childhood obesity is not an epidemic…a world where all kids, even the most disadvantaged, receive the guidance they need to be physically, mentally and emotionally fit…a world where children have positive role models and can themselves become leaders and role models for younger generations…a world where all students complete high school ready for higher education, the workforce, and a healthy, prosperous future. A World Fit For Kids! is creating that world. We work every day to give young people the training, tools and support they need to achieve their goals and lead fit and fulfilling lives.
A World Fit For Kids! (WFIT) is a leading provider of healthy behaviors and personal empowerment programming and training that result in a triple bottom line for young people:
- Obesity reduction
- Increased graduation rates
- Work readiness / jobs
Since 1993, WFIT has positively impacted the lives of over 200,000 youth through its healthy behaviors and youth development programs in communities with some of the highest obesity rates and lowest high school graduation rates in Los Angeles. We work to ensure that young people develop the physical, mental and emotional fitness they need to succeed. WFIT’s distinctive mentoring model helps young people push beyond self-imposed limitations, refine existing skills and develop new ones. High school participants work with positive adult role models, discover their own strengths in leadership, and in turn, become active advocates, empowered leaders and healthy behaviors ambassadors who positively influence their peers, families, schools and communities. Our students are learning about healthy behaviors and quality physical activities, and our teens are equipped to graduate from high school ready for higher education, the workforce, and a healthy, prosperous future.
Why is Physical Activity and Healthy Behaviors the foundation of all WFIT programming?
Physical activity and healthy behaviors offer the experience of making positive choices and getting positive results. Young people, especially those living in high-crime and high-poverty neighborhoods, often experience life as out of their control. Through our programs they discover there are things they can control, starting with their bodies. They take charge of their health, which leads them to take charge of their education, ultimately leading them to take control over other critical areas of their lives.
The Mentors In Motion Model
A key example of WFIT’s successful model is the Teen Mentors in Motion℠ (MiM) Program, which provides healthy behaviors and youth development training, job shadowing, and internship opportunities to teens. The program helps to increase self-awareness, build confidence, and strengthen interpersonal skills, equipping teens with important knowledge and tools that build their capacity to succeed in school, work and life. WFIT teens receive mentoring, academic assistance, and enrichment activities to support them in discovering their own capacity for success. To prepare them for a skilled workforce, participants engage in work-readiness training, job-shadowing, and have the opportunity to apply for a 6-month internship as an Assistant Coach-Mentor at one of WFIT’s school sites or with another youth-serving organization in a profession of their choice.
Evaluation results have shown that the MiM Program works. In fact, 94% of students who completed the Mentors in Motion℠ training and 6-month internship program since 2003 have graduated from high school, primarily from a high school with a 49.5% graduation rate!
Sharing Our Success
While WFIT’s afterschool programming is only available in the Greater Los Angeles area, we maximize our impact, reach and sustainability by sharing WFIT’s success strategies and expertise according to a replicable model that can reach young people all over the world by partnering with a network of service providers. The process starts with WFIT’s Master Trainers who guide other youth-serving professionals and organizations on how to teach and incorporate WFIT’s healthy behaviors and personal empowerment program model. Through a hands-on approach, participants gain skills to integrate sound nutrition, physical activity and youth development practices and principles into their own lives and their youth programming. Participants can use the tools, knowledge and techniques they learn from WFIT to impact even more young people in the future. Through our training division, WFIT is creating a sustainable, accessible way for others to achieve WFIT’s same breakthrough results.
Join the Movement!
Create a better world…A World Fit For Kids! Join the movement to create positive change in your community by making a tax-deductible donation to invest in the health, success and well-being of all young people.
