The Light of Hope Alliance (LOHA) is committed to provide healthy and safe activities for children, to reduce or eliminate poverty, illiteracy, illness, homelessness, and their causes principally in the Greater Prince William County area and to promote the civil, social, economic, and educational well-being of that community.

The Don Bosco Center (DBC) is the core program of LOHA. The DBC provides an integrated program of academic support and reinforcement and character development for youths in grades 5 through 12. It incorporates healthy recreational activities all year round. Other DBC activities include family-based gatherings or outings that enrich parental involvement and formation.

The Center’s activities are aimed at helping participants realize the following goals:

• Valuing family, friends, and culture as important structures that form the basis for sound decision-making;

• Forming a positive self-concept through mentoring, life skills curricula and other talks;

• Learning how to develop positive relationships with peers and authority figures;

• Involving parents more in the life and education of their children.

The Center, located at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington in Manassas, opened its doors in March 2005 and continues to meet regularly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week from 2:30 to 6:00 p.m. A “Family Day” takes place once a month and is an opportunity for the kids to have food and fun in a safe environment. In the summer, the program provides activities and field trips for these youths.

The Don Bosco Center provides an accessible, safe, and nurturing environment for youth who may be “at-risk” for violent or gang-related activity. While it is open to all youth from grades 5 through 12, it is focused on serving Hispanic families whose parents typically work multiple jobs and may be removed from their traditional sources of support. As a result, the elements that strengthen parental support and family engagement (particularly for the parents) are offered bilingually or solely in Spanish.