About the Amachi Initiative

The Amachi Initiative

The Amachi initiative began in Philadelphia in September 2000. The initiative involves unique partnerships between secular and faith-based organizations working together to provide mentoring to children of incarcerated parents.

"Amachi" is a Nigerian Ibo word that means "Who knows but what God has brought us through this child."

• Currently there are 250 mentoring children of prisoner programs in 48 states. They have partnered with more than 6,000 churches and served at least 100,000 children.
• Public/Private Ventures (P/PV) research shows that one-to-one mentoring can improve a child's academic performance, behavior, family and peer relationships, and self-concept.

Amachi Pittsburgh

Amachi Pittsburgh began in 2003 and is modeled after Philadelphia's initiative, relying on a diverse partnership of secular and faith-based organizations working with prison inmates. Caring men and women are carefully screened and matched with children of incarcerated parents within their local communities to help build trust, self-esteem, better school attendance and study habits simply by being a good friend to these children of promise. Since 2003, Amachi Pittsburgh has partnered with more than 50 congregations/community organizations and has matched over 800 children.