Back to School with the CCC

For many students, the start of the school year is all about new courses and crisp notebooks. But for young adults in the California Conservation Corps (CCC), it also represents something much bigger: a fresh start.

“I’m from East Africa—Tanzania. After I moved to the United States, it was very hard because my mom and I had nothing,” said Corpsmember Sam Sikicha. “I needed to create my future. One of my friends said, ‘You need to get your high school diploma,’ and told me the CCC website.”

At 22 years old, Sikicha joined the San Diego Center and began transforming his life. In addition to serving 40-hours per week on a crew completing conservation training and projects — he dedicates an additional 10 hours per week attending class to earn his diploma. It’s a way to gain not just course credit but also experience.

“It is so much hard work, and we are proud of ourselves we are doing this,” said Sacramento Center Corpsmember Mirwaiz Zahir. “It’s very nice because I get my diploma and I also get experience. Two things at the same time. It is so much of a benefit for my resume.”

Young adults looking to finish their high school diploma can do so while enrolled at 21 of the CCC’s 24 locations. There is no cost for Corpsmembers to take classes with CCC’s two partnering charter schools: John Muir Charter School and Urban Corps Charter School. Young adults also earn a $2,814 monthly training stipend while enrolled in the CCC to help them launch careers in the forestry, wildland firefighting, trails, habitat restoration, culinary fields and more.

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