Helping students achieve success in leadership, academic and career is the main focus of a new program being implemented by the Atmore Kappa League.

Zickeyous Byrd, principal at ECHS where several students will participate in the program, directs the Kappa League, under the umbrella of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

“The purpose of this program is to impact the children in our community in a big way, especially our younger children,” Byrd said. “A lot of problems that occur in our elementary schools can be curtailed with a little positive male role model experience.”

The 83-member organization will focus their efforts through the new program to benefit male students in seventh through 12th grades, Byrd said.

“We realize that we have students that don’t have a big brother or other male role model at home,” Byrd said. “Research has shown hat when our students feel they have someone to confide in and look up to, they do better in school and at home.”

Byrd said students throughout the community can benefit from the “My Big Brother” program.

“Our mission is to provide developmental training on leadership, academic and career achievement and community service,” Byrd said. “Every student can benefit from such a program.”

Byrd said members of the Kappa League would also benefit from the program aimed at mentoring young men in the community.

“Our young men in the Kappa League are focused on our goals,” Byrd said. “We are training them to be leaders in our community. This is an excellent way for them to give back to their community. It will certainly having an impact on them because they know they have this little one looking up to them.

Junior and senior members of the group will receive on-going training in order to work with the little brothers in the program.”

Byrd said parents will be have to give permission for their child to participate in the program that is offered at no cost to the participant.

“Parents who give permission for their child to participate in the program can expect a minimum of two interactions per month,” Byrd said. “The Kappa

League member will mentor the younger participant by demonstrating a positive image and teaching him the importance of having positive morals and values.” Activities planned for the program include attending youth league games of the little brothers and having them attend games of the league members; helping with homework; visiting the local library; having dinner or school lunches together; attending church services together; and playing sports of video games.

Byrd said the program is being implanted throughout the community with cooperation from area schools.

“We are working cooperatively with the area schools and they share the same excitement about the program,” Byrd said. “I’m really excited about this program and I hope the community will continue to support the Kappa League.”

To learn more about the program or to complete an application for the “My Little Brother” program, contact Byrd at Escambia County High School at 368-9181.