Some people talk about how much support the younger generation’s schools need. Schools around the Bay Area express how budget cuts are hurting them and affecting their graduation rates, but one organization has decided to lend a hand.

The One Land One People Youth Center in Oakland is a group of people who are taking the initiative to help the younger generation. Their vision is to create a caring community and provide equal opportunities for students in schools that are short on funds.

This youth center is not a typical study hall type of environment with tutors all around. It is closer to a recreational center where all the kids are there to have fun and enjoy each other’s company with music, games and sports. However, when it is time to work, they work.

“Our main goal is to help kids who come from all different environments reach their full potential and excel in their dreams,” said tutor Irene Gomez.

The youth center is non-school funded, functioning as a non-profit organization. All of the workers are sub-contractors and the center functions by grants through the state, and from funders such as the San Francisco Foundation, Oakland Fund for Children and Youth and the Clorox foundation.

One of their many successful endeavors is the college support program where 100 percent of the members will be attending colleges. Their Freshman Retaining and Expanding Scholarly Habits group had 39 out of 40 students pass their first year of English in high school. F.R.E.S.H., in particular, helps freshman students in high school pass all of their classes. They are hopeful that going into their sophomore year they are not missing any credits and do not have to spend their summers taking classes.

According to data provided from the Oakland Unified School District only 45.3 percent of female students and 38.9 percent of male students in 12th grade met the UC-CSU “A-G” requirements from 2011-2012. But for the graduation rate in 2011-2012 the overall district graduation rate itself was only at 62.6 percent. One Land, One People youth center believes they can help change that. With programs such as F.R.E.S.H. it helps the students prepare for the workload they will receive so that they do not fall behind and can keep the pace to go to a college of their choice.