Orangeburg nonprofit holds march during youth mentoring program
ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WIS) - An Orangeburg nonprofit that has spent the summer mentoring kids held a Day of Service Campus March at South Carolina State University.
The organization also raised awareness to a historic event that happened in Orangeburg, the Orangeburg Massacre.
David Williams, founder of the nonprofit Why Not Young Lives, mentors 65 kids.
One of them is Jaden Dash, who helped lead the Day of Service March.
“When you’re fighting for the public, it helps the community and it also builds your self-confidence because you’re doing something for the greater good and not for the bad,” said Dash.
Orangeburg County ex-guard charged with narcotics trafficking
The Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office has charged a former corrections officer with delivering contraband to inmates.
Henry Smith, Samuel Hammond and Delano Middleton were killed on the night of Feb. 8, 1968, when police shot at around 200 unarmed Black students who were demonstrating in the name of integrating a local bowling alley.
Smith and Hammond were both SC State students, and Middleton was a high school student at Wilkinson High School.
In addition to the three deaths, 28 other protesters were injured during the Orangeburg Massacre.
Williams founded the organization in 2020. The focus is to effect positive change through education, mentorship, community service and mental health awareness.
Students in third through eighth grades are participating in the five-week summer academy camp on the South Carolina State University campus.
”Growing up coming from a rural background especially being in Orangeburg, South Carolina, we have those stereotypes of we can’t do these things or your gonna be the person that maybe in jail or the person that’s not going to graduate high school and our goal is to break that stereotype and to break that barrier,” said Williams.
Suspect arrested in Orangeburg County shooting that put victim on life
According to arrest warrants, 34-year-old Scott Young had a pistol and shot Virgil Haggood, striking him in the abdomen, near the 1600 block of Baugh Street.
Terence Ocean is one of the counselors for the program. He said the experience allows him to be a better role model for kids.
“Once you let the scholars lead and let them express how they feel, everything will fall in place. It shows me that they care and makes me want to become more of a leader and a bigger inspiration for them,” said Ocean.
Williams said he had to turn away more than 80 kids who were on a waiting list. The 5-week summer camp for Why Not Young Lives concludes July 19.
For more information on how to get your children involved into Why Not Young Lives, you can head to their website at https://whynotyounglives.com.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
