By Mike Arcand
In the town of Winnsboro there is a youth program which provides opportunities that extend past its borders. The H.Y.P.E. (Helping Young People Excel) program serves as an after-school initiative that provides young people with essential support. The organization also serves as a vital connection to provide young people with a protected environment and educational learning space, and it delivers motivational words that many students lack in their lives.
The H.Y.P.E. organization developed from local residents who recognized that Winnsboro youth required additional support, primarily through structured programs, positive role models, and dedicated adults who would support their academic development. The organization’s founders identified these essential needs before they established the program’s name.
I had the opportunity to visit H.Y.P.E. during an active day and to meet with the founders and some of the students and volunteers.
The organization operates based on values which the Duffey family established when they founded the organization. Pastor Gregory Duffey from Faith Building Ministries established his vision to create a program which would support local youth development. The organization received support from Pastor Duffey, his wife Sister Duffey, and his daughter Shavon Duffey. His son and grandson Cameron joined in the effort as well.
“We started it because we saw a gap,” Pastor Duffey explained. “Kids in this community needed something positive to do after school, something consistent that kept them motivated and out of trouble.”
H.Y.P.E. started its operations at the “Rock Building,” which stands near the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial area. The location holds special meaning to the community. The black community of Winnsboro has used this historic stone building to host various events, including educational programs and celebrations for many years. The organization maintains its youth programs at this historic site because it wants to honor both educational development and cultural heritage preservation.
“You’d be surprised how much the kids enjoy learning about where they come from,” Pastor Duffey said. “It builds pride.”
A Mission Built on Structure, Support, and Self Worth
The H.Y.P.E. organization exists to fulfill three main objectives which appear in its brochure and on its website.
- H.Y.P.E. aims to establish positive activities for young people while teaching them how to become responsible adults who will succeed in their careers.
- The organization supports students in their academic journey.
- It works to build stronger ties between families and their children, and it teaches young people to develop self-esteem, leadership skills, and cultural understanding.
The organization began with a few volunteer mentors who now lead a nonprofit organization that runs multiple programs for tutoring, college readiness, scholarship funding, cultural activities, and youth leadership development. The organization bases its approach on a basic principle that children need visibility, hearing, and positive encouragement to thrive.
Meeting the Real Needs of Winnsboro Youth
“A lot of people don’t realize how important it is for kids to feel seen,” said Shavon. “Sometimes they just need an adult to say, ‘I’m proud of you. Keep going.’”
The main distinction between H.Y.P.E. and standard youth programs exists because this organization focuses on character development through its activities, rather than just filling their time after school. The program participants choose to call themselves mentors who guide and protect the young people under their care.
H.Y.P.E. exists to develop future leaders through its work with young people. Young people unite with older generations through MLK programs, Black History Month events, and community meals which create opportunities for intergenerational bonding and local heritage preservation.
“They helped me go to school. They gave me a scholarship, so that was very nice, too. That was a good experience for me,” Cameron Duffey said.
The H.Y.P.E. organization operates programs which benefit both young people and senior members of the community. While I was there, I had the opportunity to observe a senior class learning computer skills.
The computer class at that time provided basic instruction to students who were new to computer learning. The senior students at this program learn essential skills which enable them to stay connected with family members and shop online and find employment opportunities.
“H.Y.P.E. has been very, very good to me. I’m 63 years old, and it’s fun, but it has been a challenge. I’m learning a lot, and maybe I can get a job,” said Cathleen Hart, a senior student.
Lee Junior Duffey who is 72 years old, expressed his gratitude for the time H.Y.P.E. dedicates to teach him new skills. “They are taking the time to help me learn. H.Y.P.E. is here for me, and I enjoy every minute of it. I wouldn’t take nothing for it,” he said.
The Power of Place: Restoring the Rock Building
The organization dedicates its resources to restore the historic Rock Building which has served as a community hub for multiple generations. The facility restoration project serves as a historical preservation effort which brings ancient knowledge to present-day learners.
Shavon explained that the Rock Building contains extensive historical value. The organization aims to establish H.Y.P.E. as an inclusive space which unites people from all backgrounds.
Senior David Martin expressed his willingness to help with the restoration and building projects. “What I could do to help was to put in some handicapped bars for the bathroom,” he said. Pastor Duffey also said that Martin would be helping with some plumbing projects soon.
The renovation project creates an environment which provides students with a secure learning space for academic work, social activities, and community involvement.
Community Roots Make the Program Thrive
The program depends on local support from volunteers, churches, small businesses, civic organizations, and families who endorse its mission to survive as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
“You want to know what keeps H.Y.P.E. going? Community,” Pastor Duffey said. “We wouldn’t exist without people in Winnsboro stepping up.”
The organization depends on local support through food donations, academic assistance, and financial backing which enables its mission to succeed. The program leaders state that all donations—regardless of size—directly benefit students through academic success, emotional support, and social integration.
Growth, Confidence, and the Joy of Watching Kids Excel
“The biggest reward is watching them grow, seeing a shy kid become confident or a struggling student bring home a good report card,” shared Shavon Duffey.
The organization supports students through their successes and their failures by maintaining continuous support. Many children lack adult support because their caregivers fail to maintain consistent involvement.
Through H.Y.P.E., young people discover their hidden abilities while learning that life extends beyond their current limits. The program teaches students that their future possibilities exceed everything they experience in their daily lives.
To contact H.Y.P.E., you can reach out to Pastor Duffey by email or phone.