海角大神

When Richard Bienvenue finished graduate school, he took a position in the school system in Virginia鈥檚 Arlington County, working with at-risk youths. He later moved on to teaching college courses and serving as a mental health counselor in an elementary school, but something was missing 鈥� what he had done in that earlier job, helping those who are most susceptible to problems.

鈥淭he idea never left me ... working with these at-risk kids,鈥� says Mr. Bienvenue, or Benny, as he is often called.

Bienvenue realized that his true passion revolved around helping the 鈥渢hrowaway kids鈥� whom many have given up on 鈥� be it related to delinquency issues, struggles at school, problems at home, or sometimes a combination of all three. So he worked tirelessly for three years, without pay, to clear the hurdles that stood in the way of establishing a nonprofit initiative for at-risk young men.

Bienvenue founded , a residential program, in 1993. Today, it鈥檚 located on a picturesque 140-acre farm in Brookeville, Md. 鈥� a nurturing environment where male adolescents can grow. They focus on learning trades that can become their careers, and they do it with a structure that has often been lacking for them.

Our House鈥檚 central goal is to transform the outlook for participants 鈥� and to help them chart a positive path forward in their lives.

鈥淏enny鈥檚 intention for the residents at Our House is not complicated. It is to uplift the odds of a better future,鈥� says Paula Hansen, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Arcana Foundation, which has supported Our House with grants. 鈥淗e teaches skills found in most trades, and has kept the spectrum of skills growing.鈥�

Ms. Hansen, who made her comments in an email interview, adds, 鈥淏enny is the reason many young men have the tools to thrive against their odds ... and materially, each resident leaves Our House with a tool box to continue putting their acquired skills to good use.鈥�

Youths typically find Our House through a state worker or social worker, whether part of the juvenile justice or foster care systems. Information on potential participants 鈥� or trainees, as Bienvenue calls them 鈥� is then shared with Our House and reviewed prior to an interview with the youths.

The focus on adolescent boys, Bienvenue notes, is based not only on the needs among males of that age, but also on the logistical issues that would be posed by a coed residential facility.

The residential setting is key. It鈥檚 vital, Bienvenue says, to at least temporarily remove the young men from the environments that have fueled some of their challenges. 鈥淲here you live has a tremendous influence on your behavior,鈥� he says.

Beyond flipping burgers

For those who are accepted into the facility, the first month allows them to experience the broad range of trade programs available 鈥� from woodworking to farming to small-engine repair 鈥� before they take a more focused path. 鈥淲e are trying to get the guys a viable trade, not just pumping gas or being a dishwasher or flipping burgers 鈥� a viable trade, an education,鈥� Bienvenue says.

Each day鈥檚 work at Our House begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m., simulating a typical day for a tradesperson. Evenings include homework and gatherings that recognize the successes of participants and offer inspirational examples for the young men to follow.

鈥淚 have tried to mimic, as much as possible, the job world, the home world,鈥� Bienvenue says. 鈥淵ou try to boost them up; you try to make them feel caring and love.鈥�

Most trainees spend between 10 months and a year in the program, though some might continue longer if they are close to earning their high school diploma or reaching another milestone in their life.

Our House currently has a license for 16 beds, but that number is expected to rise to 24 when a newly constructed dorm building is opened soon. To date, close to 400 young men have gone through the program, with most successfully completing it.

As Bienvenue explains, Our House defines success as a graduate working and paying into the tax system, instead of receiving intensive public resources and supports. In good economic times, the success rate can top 87 percent, he says, and it鈥檚 approximately 75 percent when the economy is down.

Our House does all this on a shoestring budget, averaging less than $1 million a year. Some 85 percent of its funding comes from referral agencies, with the rest coming from donors and foundations.

Returning to the phrase 鈥渢hrowaway kids,鈥� Bienvenue notes the importance of working with this population.

鈥淭hey are rough around the edges; they are impolite; their hygiene may not be great. They鈥檒l steal your car. They don鈥檛 understand loving, caring, and empathy,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd yet they want to.... Most of them yearn for a second chance. Most of them are bright; most of them have a lot of potential.鈥�

He adds, 鈥淕ive them a chance, give them some inspiration, give them something that is viable 鈥� and most of them will come around.鈥�

One young man鈥檚 story

On a warm, sunny afternoon on Our House鈥檚 farm, Bienvenue relishes the chance to run into some familiar faces 鈥� among them, 18-year-old Tavon Bean. Mr. Bean explains that he wound up at Our House after 鈥渁 rough life鈥� growing up in Baltimore. In the seven months he has spent at the facility, he has significantly expanded his career opportunities, particularly through training in landscaping and plumbing. But beyond that, his outlook on life and on his potential has changed dramatically.

鈥淏efore I got to Our House, I always wanted to be on the streets,鈥� he says. 鈥淣ow, I want to be better than the streets.鈥�

That sort of transformation, Bienvenue says, is at the heart of what Our House tries to facilitate for each young man who passes through the program. Put another way, Our House helps participants see hope in their future. 鈥淵ou have got to offer them hope,鈥� he says.

One of the members of Our House鈥檚 board of directors, Fred Silver, speaks highly of Bienvenue鈥檚 contributions to the organization, as well as to its success.

鈥淏enny was the heart and soul of Our House and heavily involved with the boys on a day-to-day basis,鈥� Mr. Silver says. 鈥淏enny had a personal involvement with each and every resident.鈥�

As hinted at in those comments, Bienvenue is technically retired from his former post of executive director. But that would be hard to tell from the familiarity the trainees have with him, or from his frequent visits and interactions with the staff. Bienvenue, who is in his late 60s, says his high energy levels allow him to continue pitching in and being involved. He has no plan of quitting.

鈥淚 have had 45 years working with kids; a quarter of a century has been with at-risk kids,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t has been my life鈥檚 work.鈥�

He sees the negative media messages and the challenges for these young men, and he has no shortage of ideas to help turn the tide. 鈥淚 am not going to sit still,鈥� he says. 鈥淏eing in education and counseling all these years, I am not going to give up on it. It is just too important.鈥�

Another board member, Edwin Gould, describes Bienvenue as 鈥渁 loving guy鈥� and someone who has been completely committed to Our House and each of its trainees.

鈥淗e was right there, and the guys came to him for their concerns, their complaints, whatever it happened to be,鈥� Mr. Gould recalls. 鈥淗e knew the name of every guy, and he knew what their issues were.鈥�

The serene farmland setting for the organization, notes Gould, who himself was involved in teaching at Our House in the past, has a therapeutic effect on the trainees, which helps them to see what life is like outside of where they have come from.

鈥淪ome talk about how they have seen the stars for the first time in their lives,鈥� he says. 鈥淛ust being there, I think, is part of the impact.鈥�

鈥� For more, visit .

How to take action

helps people give to and volunteer for top-performing charitable organizations around the world. All the projects are vetted by UniversalGiving; 100 percent of each donation goes directly to the listed cause. Below are links to three groups supporting education or health:

improves the quality of life for children by providing education and lobbying for their protection from exploitation. Take action: .

applies scientific and other expertise to protecting the biodiversity of the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. Take action: .

is a crowdfunding initiative in India that aids those who can鈥檛 afford treatment for significant health problems. Take action: .