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Empowering Futures, Building Communities

Our vision is rooted in the principle of Shabuwa, which we understand as righteousness, walking upright, and returning to the right path when we fall. Shabuwa teaches that people have the ability to recognize when they have gone astray, take responsibility, repent, and make the choice to move forward on a better path.
We believe our communities are facing a growing need for positive environments where children can develop purpose, discipline, confidence, responsibility, and a strong sense of belonging. Many young people are navigating challenges involving violence, incarceration, substance abuse, grief, family instability, anger, hopelessness, and other circumstances that can interfere with their ability to reach their full potential.
Our organization was inspired by a calling to respond to these challenges by creating a safe and structured community where children are not only taught academic subjects, but are also given practical skills, mentorship, healthy outlets, and opportunities to develop into responsible and productive members of their families and communities.
Black man teacher showing group of multiethnic children mushrooms outdoors in park, children sitting on grass attentively observing and listening during educational nature lesson

Our Vision

The Shabuwa Community Development Initiative seeks to create an environment where children can develop strong minds, healthy bodies, practical skills, character, confidence, and compassion for others.
We envision a community in which children learn that their lives have value and purpose while also learning how to contribute positively to the people around them.
Our long-term goal is to help strengthen families and communities by developing individuals who understand responsibility, respect, accountability, service, and personal growth.

Proposed Community Facility

To effectively serve children and families, we are seeking funding to establish a comprehensive community facility that can support education, athletics, family services, and workforce development.
Our proposed facility would include:
  • A gymnasium capable of accommodating three basketball courts
  • Two kitchen facilities equipped with tables and seating
  • Four dedicated learning centers/classrooms
  • Spaces for mentorship, workshops, and community meetings
  • Areas dedicated to vocational and life-skills training
  • Outdoor areas for gardening, recreation, and physical activities
  • Family housing or a residential facility to support families and staff members who contribute to the operation of the community
The three-court gymnasium would serve as a central home for the Walking in the Way Hoopers , while also providing space for youth practices, tournaments, fitness programs, community events, and other activities designed to promote healthy lifestyles.
The residential component would help create greater stability for families who work within the program by reducing housing barriers and allowing them to remain focused on building and maintaining the community.

Building Self-Sufficiency

A central component of our vision is self-sufficiency.
We want children and families to learn how to create, build, produce, and contribute rather than simply depend on outside resources. Participants will have opportunities to learn skills that can eventually become sources of employment, income, and entrepreneurship.
Children will be taught practical skills such as gardening, sewing, cooking, food preservation, household management, personal care, athletics, research, and other vocational abilities.
As participants grow, they will have opportunities to develop leadership skills and contribute to the operation of the community itself. Our goal is to create a cycle in which young people who benefit from the program can eventually become mentors, teachers, coaches, entrepreneurs, and community leaders for the next generation.

Our Commitment

We believe that meaningful community change begins with investing in children.
Our purpose is not simply to provide a place for children to spend their time. Our purpose is to create an environment where children can learn, grow, discover their purpose, develop discipline, build healthy relationships, acquire practical skills, and understand their responsibility to themselves, their families, and their communities.
We believe that when children are given structure, education, love, accountability, opportunity, and positive examples, they are better positioned to make healthy choices and become productive adults.
We are seeking partners who are willing to invest in this vision and help us establish a sustainable community initiative that can serve generations to come.
Your support would help us move from vision to action by providing the facilities, educational resources, athletic equipment, basketball programming, curriculum, staffing, and community resources necessary to begin serving Oregon families.
We respectfully ask you to consider investing in the Shabuwa Community Development Initiative and in the children and families we are committed to serving.
Together, we can build a community centered on education, righteousness, responsibility, family, opportunity, service, athletics, and self-sufficiency.

Join Our Vibrant Community Today!

Get involved with Shabuwa Inc. and empower children and families in Gresham, OR. Contact us today to learn more about programs and mentorship opportunities!
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