Women In Unity After School Program

Program Overview

Women In Unity is recognized as an effective nonprofit organization that has been serving the Edgefield, South Carolina community since 2002. The day-to-day operations of Women In Unity (WIU) are the responsibility of Mrs. Essie B. Nicholson, founder and Chief Executive Officer. An energetic Board of Directors provides oversight and guidance to the organization as well as takes an active role in fundraising and program development. All board members involved in other organizations in the local community and serve as advocates for WIU projects and programs. The WIU volunteers and the consistent and generous support received from the Edgefield community are the organization's primary assets. Women In Unity has been staffed primarily by volunteers since its founding. At the WIU Learning and Development Center in the Town of Edgefield, Mrs. Nicholson is supported by a dedicated volunteer staff that includes a secretary, treasurer, office and kitchen assistants, tutor, and classroom aides. Several of the staff have retired from careers in related field. WIU also works with the South Carolina Department of Social Services, the Edgefield County One Stop Workforce Center, Strom Thurmond's Vocational Release Program, and the Aiken County Foster Grandparent Program to supplement the WIU volunteer workforce. Although WIU is a United Way agency, the majority of the financial support comes from individual donations and from fundraising efforts throughout the year. Women In Unity is supported by members who are committed to providing financial support to the organization. We serve students from Pre-K to 5th Grade.

Cost Info

Student and Volunteer Success Stories

My son, Jacob, started attending Women In Unity's After School Program when he was in the second grade. When he first started, he was very shy and struggled with reading. Because he struggled with reading, he had developed a fear of reading out loud. After being there for a short period of time, I started to notice a difference. He was slowly coming out of his shell and his reading began to improve. The staff there always found ways to encourage him and help build his confidence. Once he gained the confidence he needed, his reading began to get better and better. My son is now in the third grade and loves reading! He is even reading stories out loud to his classmates at the After School Program. The staff was always very patient with him and he had a chance to get the one-one attention that he needed to get him back on track with his reading.