Education Support
in Appalachia

Overview

Empowering Students Through Education

Parents face many challenges and raising children while in poverty exacerbates these challenges. Often times parents must make the difficult choice to either afford food for the week or purchase school supplies for their child. Helping students gain access to the resources they need is essential to ensuring their success in school.

At Americans Helping Americans, we believe that education support in Appalachia is key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Our mission is to empower students, families, and communities by providing essential tools for success. For years, we've been helping low-income students by delivering thousands of school kits to students every year. We also work with entire schools to supply resources and ensure that all students have the tools they need to thrive.

The Reality

The Challenges Appalachian Students Face

Students in Appalachia face unique challenges compared to other regions of America. High poverty rates, limited access to educational resources, and a lack of technology create significant barriers to success. While bachelor's degree attainment in Appalachia has increased to 26%, many students still struggle to access higher education and career training opportunities.

According to educators in Appalachia, many schools lack adequate tools to expose students to STEM education, career shadowing, and in-demand workforce skills. Post-pandemic learning loss and past natural disasters, such as severe flooding, have further disrupted education, making it even harder for students to stay on track.

Americans Helping Americans is committed to addressing these issues by providing targeted solutions that help overcome these obstacles.

Back to School

Back to School

We provide backpacks filled with school supplies to our partners in Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, and Georgia. Each backpack contains paper, pencils, crayons, sharpeners, scissors, notebooks, erasers, rulers, and glue.

After School

After School

Our after-school programs offer a safe and supportive environment where children can engage in fun learning activities, receive one-on-one tutoring, and enjoy nutritious meals. Many students face challenges at home due to a lack of computers or reliable internet.

Digital Access

Bridging the Digital Divide

Many students in Appalachia struggle due to the lack of access to technology. Low-income students often cannot complete homework or engage in digital learning because of limited access to computers and internet service. We provide laptops and internet access to students.

5,400+School supply kits distributed

✓Additional students received custom school supplies

✓Students in sponsored after-school programs

574Summer campers attended AHA-supported camps

What are the main educational challenges students face in Appalachia?

Students in Appalachia face challenges such as limited access to school supplies, a lack of internet and technology, and financial struggles that hinder their ability to excel academically. These barriers often lead to lower academic achievement and limited opportunities.

How does providing laptops help students?

Laptops ensure that students in Appalachia have the technology they need to complete homework, access educational content online, and participate in digital learning programs, helping them stay on track with their studies.

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