S.T.E.P. - Shaolin Temple Esteem Program


The Shaolin Temple Esteem Program (S.T.E.P.) helps fill Camden County area children’s hours with meaningful activities that enable them to grow physically, mentally, and spiritually.   

 Since July 2006, S.T.E.P. has helped keep underprivileged kids off the streets.  We accomplish this with year round after-school and summer programs that encourage each child realize his or her potential.  More than 50 children have taken part in these programs, benefiting from positive adult supervision, tutoring, life skills such as self control, meal preparation, and money management, job skills, and Shaolin exercises for fitness, endurance, and confidence.  We believe in the power of this program to significantly change the lives of kids who would otherwise “fall through the cracks” in one of the nation’s most troubled counties.  

 To successfully continue this work, we at S.T.E.P. need your help.  With your support, we can serve a greater number of the children referred to us by a variety of social services agencies.  Together, we can give kids from low-income families a future to work toward, while building their skills, strength, and belief in themselves. 

Project Abstract

The Shaolin Temple Esteem Program is currently searching for funding to continue and expand our program for underprivileged children in the Camden County area of New Jersey.  Our goal is to provide children with healthy, positive, character-enhancing after-school and summer activities.  These emphasize the importance of responsibility and accepting the consequences of one’s actions. We are seeking funds from a broad outreach program to over 70 private and corporate foundations, who have supported other programs targeted to underprivileged youth. Additionally, we have begun an outreach program to the guidance counselors from area schools to help build awareness of our program.

Statement of Need

The majority of populations we serve are low income families of all races, located in southern New Jersey Camden, Gloucester, Burlington, and Cumberland Counties.  We serve both boys and girls from ages 6 and up with varying emotional, mental, and physical abilities.  A survey at the University of Chicago found that more than 80% of urban high school students spend hours alone after school without positive adult supervision.  In our area, these are hours that can have devastating consequences for our children.  The proof, unfortunately, is in the crime rate, the high drug use among kids, and the unacceptable numbers of our youth being gunned down before they reach their prime. 

Program Description

S.T.E.P. conducts a variety of organized, positive programs for participating children.  Programs include:

      • Tutoring

      • Life skills such as self control, self esteem, money management, and meal preparation

      • Career skills, helping kids understand the jobs available and skills needed

      • Counseling

        •

      • Physical activities such as flexibility, self defense, strengthening, and Shaolin exercises

All of these programs are designed to instill kids with a sense of worth and individual potential. They fill children’s after-school hours with meaningful, adult-supervised learning experiences. 

Goals and Objectives

The goal of the Shaolin Temple Esteem is to serve at-risk children, providing healthy, positive, character-enhancing activities.  These will instill confidence, the ability to focus, respect toward one’s self and others, and the ability to make correct decisions. Children who participate in this program have the opportunity to feel good about themselves and begin to realize their own potential.  This in turn will help them look toward their own futures and have confidence in what they can achieve. 

Key program objectives include: 

      1. Provide reading and mathematics support resulting in measurable improvements in children’s school performance

      1. Teach appropriate social behavior that helps kids navigate their troubled communities without becoming victims

      1. Ensure that children have the skills to become effective, independent adults

      1. Give kids a head start in the job market by teaching them about what’s available and how to apply

      1. Provide physical fitness and exercise that helps grow self confidence and improves health

      1. Engage and support kids in after-school hours with positive adult mentorship and supervision

 

Current Affiliations

The program is currently under contract with the local counties Care Management Offices and Youth Case Management Offices, which provide referrals to us.   

Timeline

Summer Program

June 30th - August 22nd

 

                Morning Session    9AM-1PM

 

                Afternoon Session  1PM-5PM

Fall Program

August 25th - December 5th
                Afternoon Session  4PM-8PM

Winter Program

December 8th - March 20th

                Afternoon Session  4PM-8PM

Spring Program

March 23rd - June 26th

                Afternoon Session  4PM-8PM

Publicity

Our contributors will be identified on our web page (www.shaolintemplenj.com) and recognized thru publicity efforts via press releases, etc.

Staff and Organizational Information

Sifu Royee Filler, Shaolin Monk and owner of the Shaolin Temple, lived for several years in China, where he studied in a Shaolin Monastery under a Shaolin monk in the Fujian Providence. While in China, he also performed as a stunt man for Hong Kong cinema. He returned to the South Jersey area eight years ago to establish his school, first in a rented facility in Voorhees and now in his own building in Somerdale. By being in the States, his main driving ambition is to contribute to the betterment of children in our society because of his own experience with Shaolin and its life changing philosophies – mind, body, and spirit.

Julian Spyer, Shaolin student and S.T.E.P. (Shaolin Temple Esteem Program) director, was enrolled in the Air Force for 4 years graduating with an Electronic Engineering Associates degree. Upon completion of his military duties he moved back to New Jersey, where his family resides. Since January of 2006, Julian has been a part of the RAP (Rehabilitative Adolescent Program) and has worked with about 30 children to date. With his own experiences being a driving force, he started working with kids through the Shaolin Temple in efforts give them the proper guidance and strength to overcome obstacles in their lives. 

Elizabeth Santangelo, Shaolin Temple Webmaster and S.T.E.P. (Shaolin Temple Esteem Program) coordinator, is currently working on a Bachelors in Electronic Engineering Technology.

 

Help Us

contactus@shaolintemplenj.com for more information or if you would like to be a part of this program's continued success.