The Forbes Foundation is partnering with The Hawaii Girls Court, www.girlscourt.org, the Rotary Club and Foundation of Hawaii Kai to provide a pilot program to create opportunities for high risk student to gain knowledge in the science and technology areas.

Hawaii Girls Court is one of the first courts in the United States built on a full range of gender-specific and strength-based programming with a caseload targeting female juvenile offenders.

The target population, girls within the judicial system, a small group of 12-15 girls will be working with a group of volunteers (5-6) working with this group. These girls have been victims of harsh abuse and daunting family situations. They have not experienced educational success nor have they experienced positive adult interaction. The immediate goal is to begin the process of rebuilding their personalities, work ethic, and introduce them to a safe environment.

Projects will be designed to provide students with skills that would lead them on career paths to higher paying jobs. We seek to implement several pilot programs to demonstrate the importance of creating new pathways for these students.

One project is the girls will build computers. It encourages students and adults to interact with one another learning and doing while building computers and to be more aware of the dynamics of communication and trust. Their awareness of the needs and the skills required will be of utmost importance.
Projects are small steps in creating social change for the target population.

The greater vision is to create a school for the girls where they would be able to explore themselves as human beings and to express themselves without fear of retaliation or of abuse, and learn they have options other than the ones currently before them.