AG 2004 03 15 - Laserfiche WebLink

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NORTH CAROLINA'S TOP TWO YOUTH VOLUNTEERS SELECTED/Page Two Caroline, a senior at Hunt High School in Wilson, created an after-school tutoring and mentoring program at an inner-city shelter for young victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse Caroline' s mother, who worked at the shelter, asked her one day to help out by watching the children. "They all needed help with their homework, and some told me about problems they were having at school or home," Caroline said "It dawned on me those kids just needed a friend who could help them" Once she received approval from the executive director of the shelter, Caroline began designing a curriculum for the kids and recruited 50 other youth mentors, who were assigned to be homework tutors, group facilitators, arts and crafts captains, storytellers and sports captains Approximately 100 children were regular participants in the program during the first year~ and all of them succeeded in graduating to their next grade level afterwards. Caroline believes the program has not only improved academic skills, but has "given hope to children who live daily in heartbreaking conditions" Dana, a sixth-grader at Harris Road Middle School, collected money from neighbors, relatives and others to buy new books for nearly 700 children at two elementary schools "I love to read and I love new books, so I thought other kids would like new books, too," said Dana "I wanted poor kids who didn't have their own books to have a new book to keep" Dana began by knocking on neighbors' doors for donations, then made and sold holiday pins. An interview in a local newspaper sparked an additional sizable donation, and a major publisher sent her a box of free books. With $600 in hand, Dana went shopping for inexpensive or discounted books, and then sorted them all by grade level with the help of a retired teacher in her neighborhood. Finally, she delivered the books to two elementary schools in low-income areas, providing a new book to each of the schools' students. "Books are good for kids to have, especially when they don't have one of their own," Dana said. In addition, the program judges recognized six other North Carolina students as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion: Vanessa Abbott, 13, of Greensboro, a seventh-grader at Our Lady of Grace Catholic School, produced a slide show to raise awareness of endangered species and generate donations for the World Wildlife Fund. Vanessa, who has loved animals for as long as she can remember, wants people to understand that "animals need our help to keep them from going extinct." - more -