This program has been postponed until 2024 – check back again in the new year.
Dreaming of Aloha is a six-month life-skills achievement program that provides monthly workshops on topics related to financial literacy, higher education, etiquette, CPR / First Aid certification, resume building, and giving back to the community. This program culminates with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Oahu, Hawaii.
Qualifications
Applicants must be 14-17 years old and enrolled in high school or an alternative education program.
Applicants must be in foster care, kinship care, at-risk or adopted.
Applicants must reside in Southern California and be able to participate in all in-person workshops, information sessions, and social gatherings.
In order to earn the all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii, teens must participate in workshops, events, and information sessions scheduled from May to November. These workshops and events are mandatory; A participant may be dropped from the program if they miss an outing.
Trip to Oahu:
This all-expenses-paid trip usually takes place in December. The trip includes an introduction to Hawaiian and Polynesian cultures, water-based activities, outdoor experiences, meeting influential figures, involvement in a local community service project, and a guided tour of the University of Hawaii, Manoa. There will be 6 teens and 6 US4K team members invited to attend.
Youth must be willing to actively participate in all outdoor activities, which may include:
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Paddleboarding
- Snorkeling
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Long outdoor walks w/ slight inclines (ie: touring a college campus, walking in botanical gardens)
Health
- Youth are required to receive a physical clearance from a physician between the months of October and November to participate in the trip to Hawaii.
- Youth who exhibit symptoms of Covid or other illnesses near workshop and/or travel dates are required to notify US4K staff immediately.
Deadlines
The deadline to submit your application is in May. Applicant and caregiver interviews will take place the first week of May.
Application Process:
The DOA application nomination process will have two segments: The Caregiver Nomination Form and the Teen Application Form.
The Teen Application Form has three components: All About Me Questionnaire, Life-skills Survey, and an essay or video submission.
Caregiver please complete this application on behalf of the teen you are nominating.
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Teen applicant ages 14-17 must complete this portion:
SAMPLE ESSAY SUBMISSION (ESSAY OR VIDEO)
*Youth are required to select 3 essay prompts below to help us learn more about them and why they would like to participate in this program. Applicants must select 3 of the 6 topics to write or record a video response about. Each paragraph should be at minimum 4 sentences and reviewed for grammatical errors prior to submission.
If selecting the video option, please obtain caregiver’s consent prior to submission and dress responsibly. Due to size attachment limits, videos should not exceed 2 minutes. If a video file exceeds the maximum size to submit on our website, videos can be submitted to info@us4k.orgK instead. Please use the text “Video for DOA Program” in the subject line of your email.
Paragraph 1: Include your name, age, grade, interests or hobbies, and what you want to be when you grow up.
Example: My name is Gabriella and I am a 15 year old sophomore at Green Crest High school. I enjoy playing sports and making art in my free time. My all-time favorite hobbies are soccer, roller skating, cooking, and drawing. I have recently been interested in making pottery and learning how to surf. Although I am not the best at these activities, I have a blast spending my time doing these with friends. When I grow up, I hope to teach art to elementary schools or a soccer coach.
Paragraph 2: Why do you want to participate in the program?
I want to participate in this program because I’ve never had the opportunity to travel before. Growing up, Hawaii Five-O was my favorite tv show. The lush forests and crystal clear water has always been captivating to me and it is one of my biggest dreams to see those stunning sceneries before I turn 21. I also think the life-skills taught in this program will be beneficial for when I become an adult and am living on my own.
Paragraph 3: Is there anything special or interesting about you that you would like for us to know?
Something special I want you to know is that I was recently recognized for good behavior with my teacher. This is a big deal for me because I have a lot of energy and it is sometimes hard for me to stay quiet when my teacher is speaking. I have been working hard with tutors after school and got a B on my midterm exam. My foster mom was so happy that she rewarded me with ice cream from Mr. Frosties afterwards.
Paragraph 4: Who is a positive role model in your life and what are the influences they’ve had on you?
A positive role model in my life is my best friend’s mother, Anna. She is the first consistent adult I’ve had in my life and the impacts have been tremendous. Anna is like a mother to me and is always there to listen and provide encouragement when I have tough days. She recently introduced me to using physical exercise, such as going on a jog around the neighborhood, as a coping mechanism whenever I am going through something. She has positively influenced me to be strong, resilient, and more understanding of others. I am very thankful to have an adult like her in my life.
Paragraph 5: What do you envision yourself doing after high school?
After high school, my goal is to attend a local community college to learn about entrepreneurship. After graduating, I want to work hard for 5 years and save up money to open up a cat cafe shop in San Francisco one day. Opening an animal cafe has been an ultimate dream of mine for as long as I can remember. I saw a Youtube video in 3rd grade and have been inspired to help animals since. I hope my cat cafe can be a safe space for all customers and the calming environment will bring joy to everyone that visits.
Paragraph 6: What does a perfect future look like to you?
A perfect future to me means being happy with my life. I think I will be able to achieve this by having positive individuals in my life, working a job I enjoy, playing softball on weekends, maintaining friendships, and living close to the beach. Although I’m still deciding what I want to do career-wise, I know I want one that is involved with helping animals. I hope to one day adopt 2 puppies and a cat from an animal shelter.
OR
PART C: SAMPLE VIDEO SUBMISSION[/vc_column_text]
