Aleteia logoAleteia logoAleteia
Thursday 28 March |
Holy Thursday of the Supper of the Lord
Aleteia logo
Inspiring Stories
separateurCreated with Sketch.

The inspiring “Boys With a Purpose” club for at-risk kids

smart boy

wavebreakmedia | Shutterstock

Cerith Gardiner - published on 05/25/23

This club is a beautiful example of when teachers go above and beyond.

Please consider a gift for Aleteia!
Help us spread the joy of Christ's victory.
Aleteia depends on your support.

Join our Lenten Campaign 2024.

DONATE NOW

As schools start to wrap up their academic year, it’s important to acknowledge the hard work the teachers put in to preparing their pupils for life ahead, away from the school books.

An Instagram post from a few years ago about a teacher in South Carolina who started a “Gentlemen’s Club” for boys with no father figures at home has once more garnered a lot of attention.

Raymond Nelson, a student support specialist at Memminger Elementary in Downtown Charleston, South Carolina, along with fellow teacher Kenneth Joyner, came up with the idea of helping kids who are at-risk.

He gathered nearly 60 students every Wednesday to join his club, where boys were expected to dress for the occasion. As the group’s motto is “Look good, feel good, do good,” the youngsters would turn up in their Sunday best.

As Nelson shared with WCSC-TV, “I was thinking maybe if I have the boys dress for success … When was the last time you saw someone fighting in a tuxedo?”

The kind-hearted teacher has a stock of donated attire to lend to the kids so they don’t feel left out if they don’t have their own smart clothes.

“I know a lot of them struggle because a lot of them don’t have men at home, so I just want them to grow up and think of the things that I teach them. They like the reaction of walking up to classrooms and [someone saying], ‘Oh, you look so nice and handsome’; they just love it.”

The children range from first to fifth grade, and when they join the other gentlemen in their club they discuss all sorts of topics, ranging from hand-shaking to respecting their elders.

While the club started out as being named a “gentlemen’s club,” Nelson renamed it to “Boys With a Purpose,” which will surely give these young men a sense of direction in life.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pubity (@pubity)

Tags:
EducationInspiring storiesParenting
Support Aleteia!

Enjoying your time on Aleteia?

Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you.

Thanks to their partnership in our mission, we reach more than 20 million unique users per month!

Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting and transformative Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more.

Support Aleteia with a gift today!

jour1_V2.gif
Daily prayer
And today we celebrate...




Top 10
See More
Newsletter
Get Aleteia delivered to your inbox. Subscribe here.