Empower U is designed for teenagers and young adults aged 13 to 21 who want to develop stronger life skills and greater confidence in their future.
Occasionally we do accept 12-year-olds, but only if the young person genuinely wants to attend and is ready for the experience. Empower U is not a babysitting environment, and the program works best when participants choose to be involved and engaged.
Similarly, we sometimes have participants over 21 attend. In these cases we simply make sure they understand that the typical participant age sits around the mid-teen years. The education itself is not age-specific, but the program is delivered in a way that is most relevant for teenagers and young adults.
One of the things we are very mindful of is protecting the experience for the group. Empower U works best when participants feel comfortable with the people around them and can fully participate in the activities and conversations. For this reason we carefully manage the age range to ensure the environment feels appropriate for everyone involved.
Participants attend Empower U for many different reasons. Some young people come because they want greater confidence, direction or motivation. Others attend because they are already performing well and want to develop stronger leadership skills, clearer goals and a bigger vision for their future.
Over the past 25 years and more than 40,000 graduates, Empower U has supported young people from all backgrounds. From those looking for greater clarity and direction, to high achievers, athletes and school leaders who want to continue growing.
Ultimately, Empower U is for any young person who wants to better understand themselves, develop stronger life skills, and gain tools that can help them move forward with greater confidence and clarity.