{"id":133,"date":"2017-10-15T14:27:57","date_gmt":"2017-10-15T14:27:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kars4kidsgrants.org\/previous-grants\/?p=133"},"modified":"2024-08-26T07:16:19","modified_gmt":"2024-08-26T11:16:19","slug":"volunteer-work-empowers-kids-so-what-else","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kars4kidsgrants.org\/our-grantees\/volunteer-work-empowers-kids-so-what-else\/","title":{"rendered":"Volunteer Work Empowers Kids: So What Else"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our newest small grant recipient is So What Else<\/a>, an organization that empowers disenfranchised children in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area through volunteer work and hands-on educational projects. We think that’s brilliant! Kids from low income families are always needing help. Here, they are the ones extending help to others through volunteer work, giving, and being a part of the community.<\/p>\n

Serving as volunteers shows these children a way to contribute using what they’ve got, when they thought they’d “got” nothing much at all. Giving and doing makes them know they’re somebodies, which is the all-important first step of breaking out of the cycle of poverty and hopelessness. We spoke with Director of Conflict Resolution and Mentorship at So What Else, Asana Hamidu, to find out more about this important work:<\/p>\n

Kars4Kids:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0Your website describes the 50-minute Olympiad, referring to the ten tenets of so what else. Can you list those tenets for us?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Asana Hamidu: Yes! These 10 tenets are known as the 10 Pillars. It is what guides are interaction with the youth and the community. They are:<\/p>\n

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  1. Youth Empowerment: With the proper tools, support, and buy-in, youth have the power to be agents of innovation and progress in their local, regional, and national commun<\/li>\n
  2. Constant Growth: Always seek new knowledge and opportunities for learning and growing.<\/li>\n
  3. Be True to Yourself: Don\u2019t do something just because everyone else is, or because it seems like the easiest option. Keep your own deeply-rooted council and do what you feel is right and that stays true to who you ar<\/li>\n
  4. Leave No Trace: We only have one planet, be respectful of your surroundings and minimize your impact by taking only what you brought with you and leaving nothing behind. Work towards living a zero-waste life!<\/li>\n
  5. Compassion: Treat your peers with compassion and understanding and treat them with the respect that you would wish them to give to you.<\/li>\n
  6. Creativity: The arts are a powerful form of expression through which we can interact with the world in new ways unique to ones<\/li>\n
  7. Non-Violence: Instead of taking out your frustration through anger, use rationality and understanding to stay calm and see issues from others point of view.<\/li>\n
  8. Pay it Forward and Civic Responsibility: Take the selfless actions people have given expecting nothing in return and spread that kindness on to o Keep informed of your community and understand your role in it and what you can do to improve it. Continue the cycle of service and work toward being an engaged, informed, and helpful citizen.<\/li>\n
  9. Positivity: Maintain an open, welcoming, positive attitude to help us create a safe space in which, together, we can learn, play and grow.<\/li>\n
  10. Teamwork and Sportsmanship: When we work together we can create a synergy that takes us further towards our goals than if we work alone. Teamwork allows us to motivate and support each other\u2019s strengths. Competition is only good when it is fair and positive.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Kars4Kids: <\/strong>What are some examples of session themes for the 50-minute Olympiad<\/a>?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Asana Hamidu: We do plenty of sports games that are focused on building teamwork and sportsmanship. One example of that are the Track and Field games where we measure flexibility, speed and agility. Also, we have an everybody runs kickball game where kids receive their 45 minutes of necessary movement per day. On occasion, the kids love funs games like sharks and minnows and capture the flag (this one is a hit!).<\/p>\n

    Environmental Stewardship<\/strong><\/h1>\n

    Kars4Kids: <\/strong>At your Green Path Academy<\/a>, you\u2019ve done bottle-bricking with the kids. Can you describe the process? Is this something the kids could do at home?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Asana Hamidu: This is a fun and creative way to teach children about environmental stewardship. This process begins with making bottle bricks! This is when you take inorganic trash and fill the plastic bottles with them to make sturdy bricks. These \u201cbricks\u201d are then used to build art installations, benches, buildings and whatever your imagination can dream up. This activity brings the community together while creating something, beautiful and sustainable which will then serve as a daily reminder to reduce waste and take care of our environment.<\/p>\n