Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program

“The Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program exemplifies IDRA’s asset-based approach. The program is based on the creed that all students are valuable, none is expendable,” stated Dr. María “Cuca” Robledo Montecel. “It has maintained a less than 2 percent dropout rate, which is an incredible legacy.”

The Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program, created by the Intercultural Development Research Association, is an internationally-recognized, cross-age tutoring program with an unusual twist. The program works by identifying junior high and high school students in at-risk situations and enlisting them as tutors for elementary school youngsters who are also struggling in school. Given this role of personal and academic responsibility, the Valued Youth tutors learn self-discipline and develop self-esteem; schools shift to the philosophy and practices of valuing students considered at-risk. Results show that tutors stay in school, have increased academic performance, improved school attendance and advanced to higher education.

Since its inception in 1984, the program has kept more than 25,000 students in school, young people who were previously considered at risk of dropping out. The lives of more than 456,000 children, families and educators have been positively impacted by the program. The program design is based on IDRA research on the dropout issue and school holding power. The program has grown across the United States and is presently in 16 cities in Brazil.