2023 – 2024 Impact Report
As we approach our 50th anniversary, Aslan Youth Ministries reflects on a legacy of service and transformation. Since our founding in 1975, we have been dedicated to serving some of the most underserved areas in Monmouth County, New Jersey, and empowering at-risk youth through community development programs that focus on both spiritual and educational growth.
This Impact Report highlights how, through one-on-one mentoring and tutoring, our dedicated volunteers help children overcome challenges, build resilience, and create brighter futures. It also showcases our international efforts, including our life-saving work in Haiti, where we provide essential healthcare, education, and resources to families in extreme poverty.
Join us in reviewing the strides we’ve made and the lasting impact of nearly 50 years of service.
Founded in 1975, Aslan Youth Ministries is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving some of the most underserved areas in Monmouth County, including Long Branch, Neptune, Red Bank, and Asbury Park, New Jersey. Our community development programs focus on the spiritual and educational growth of each child, empowering at-risk youth to overcome their challenges and build brighter futures. At the heart of our approach is intensive one-on-one mentoring and tutoring, where our dedicated volunteers work closely with each child to address their unique needs, foster academic success, and nurture personal development. By building strong, supportive relationships, we help guide each child on a path toward self-confidence, resilience, and long-term success.
In 1996, Aslan expanded its mission internationally by accepting the challenge to provide life-saving services in Ouanaminthe, Haiti, located near the northeastern border of the Dominican Republic. Through a series of programs designed to meet the diverse needs of some of the poorest families in the world, we offer holistic support to those facing extreme poverty.
Since then, we have made significant strides in this remote area. In 2003, Aslan purchased 6 acres of land in L’Acajou, Haiti, where we have established a fully operational medical clinic with a surgery room, offering critical healthcare services to the local community. We also built an education center where adults can learn valuable trades, equipping them with skills to support their families and improve their economic stability. Our farming and nutrition program helps families grow and farm their own food, promoting self-sufficiency and better nutrition. Additionally, our clean water project provides safe drinking water to hundreds of families daily across the region.
Aslan’s long-term goal is to break the cycle of systemic poverty by offering individualized support and resources to every child and family we serve. For nearly 50 years, we have positively impacted more than 5,000 children and families through our relationship-based programs. What sets Aslan apart is the lasting impact of our work, which focuses on creating meaningful, long-term change in the lives of youth and families.
Our nearly five decades of commitment have shown that children can make better decisions with the right resources and dedicated adult allies, leading to transformative change in their lives and communities.
- Over 22,000 children and families served through our robust volunteer training programs, Haiti opreations, and USA youth programs since our founding.
- Serving 120 or more children annually in Monmouth County, NJ, in afterschool, volunteer and summer camp programs.
- 95% of students entering our programs are below their grade level and are African American.
- 90% of Aslan students graduate from high school (provided they stay in our programs for at least 6 years).
- Door-to-door transportation is provided for each child in the USA programs (to ensure program participation and safety).
- Over 1,000 children and families served annually in Haiti.
- We average 500 volunteers annually through servant leadership volunteer training and service in our Haiti and USA operations.
Our Programs
Our ultimate goal is for every Aslan student to graduate from high school. Even though 95% of students join our programs below grade level, 90% of those who remain with us for at least six years successfully graduate and pursue college, technical training, entrepreneurship, or military service, effectively breaking the cycle of poverty.
Aslan in USA:
• Tutoring and Mentoring: Our successful and respected program pairs volunteers with students for one-on-one academic support, helping them catch up to grade level rather than just assisting with homework. We use the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum, focusing on mastery of key literacy skills, including vocabulary and cursive writing. This approach boosts academic performance and fosters nurturing bonds between students and caring adults.
• Right Choices: This character development program, rooted in Judeo-Christian values, teaches life skills and values to children facing poverty and trauma. The program encourages them to become servant leaders, make ethical decisions, and contribute positively to their communities, empowering them to overcome the long-term effects of hardship and systemic poverty.
• Summer Camp: Camp Aslan offers a structured environment for continued learning and growth during the summer. Activities include field trips, arts and crafts, sports, music education, and computer science. In 2023, we introduced a nutrition education program to address food insecurity among our children. The camp also provides one-on-one tutoring to help students maintain and improve their academic skills during the break.
All of these programs are offered free of charge and include roundtrip and door-to-door transportation to ensure maximum participation. Through these comprehensive efforts, Aslan is profoundly impacting the lives of children and families, both locally and internationally.
Aslan in Haiti – Aslan extends its mission internationally through a comprehensive set of community development programs in Haiti. These efforts include a fully operational medical clinic with a surgery room, providing critical healthcare services to some of the most impoverished communities. We also run an education center where adults can learn valuable trades, equipping them with the skills needed to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the local economy. Our farming and nutrition program empowers families to grow their own food, promoting self-sufficiency and better health outcomes. Additionally, our clean water project supplies safe drinking water to hundreds of families, addressing a vital need in the region. These programs are designed not only to meet immediate needs but also to offer sustainable opportunities for growth and development, helping to uplift entire communities.
