How 2 play Da Game

To start this equity project we call places to volunteer but they say they had help already. So than we tough that kids were the ones that need it help.Those Kids that someday we were. We decided to volunteer on the irvington community center. were kids need help with sports activities. We reach them because my patner sam use to work for them doing this. We talk to Joe and Robin and they said that we could volunteer to help the kids. They were good people that let us help them. We work with kids of age 3-8 and 9-15. The first day we got there we met kids that were little and some big but they all had the same goal. Wich was to play basketball. Some were good at it and some not to good. But thats why we were there to help them. We did shooting, dribbiling, passing. many had the idea on how to play and others were learning. but most of them liked how we treat them and how we help them and they learned new things about the sports. We liked our volunteer help because we are helping kids to learn new things. And we thinking of going back because they really need help so they because good at this sport. And that our next step its going to be teach them team work its the best form to win a game... We couldn't take pictures of the kids that we help because some were under age and there parents didnt agree. But we took pictures of the place and were kids go for help.

This is the place we were volunteering at . a big place were kids go and learn to play the sport

These picture is when kids were playing and sam in the gray was teaching them how to shoot

KIDZ

                                                                         

A child is vulnerable to many influences, in the street and home as well as the school. But while the school environment can be controlled, that outside is not so easily regulated. To ensure that children use their time outside school as productively as possible, programs should be arranged for outside school hours. So for my reaching for equity project, I decided to volunteer in the After School Cabrillo Program. I was always interested in helping the youth by helping them with their homework and being productive after school. Since I have a little brother I have been a good role model to him and helped him out, so why not help other kids too.

When I arrived to Cabrillo I was greeted by the members who were helping the kids, they seemed really nice as the introduce themselves. I was then put to work as I helped the students with their homework. If the students had any questions they would raise their hand and wait to be helped. It was sometimes difficult helping the students with their homework because some were stubborn kids. Since, most of them were in first grade I tried reasoning with them and try to guide them through their homework. After everyone was done with their homework we would go outside and engage with extracurricular activities. I watched over the kids and also played hide-in -go -seek and made some new friends.

Overall, it was a fun experience helping out the kids, it brought the inner child in me. I love volunteering there because the kids are fun to be around and respectful. I interacted with them and found me funny to be around. I think it was a successful volunteering opportunity and hopefully I get to do it again.

Learning About the Native American Culture

On Monday April 30, 2012 me and Edgar went to Fremonts Adult School to volunteer at the F.U.S.D Native American Studies Program. As we walk into the classroom we are greeted by Christina Cruz who is one of the directors of this program. Christina begins by explaining the program and how volunteers help. She tells us that many of the kids that are in the program are Native Americans from different tribes. The first thing that I noticed was the Native American Museum which is inside the classroom. Christina gave us a tour of the museum and explained their culture and their way of living. What I found most intresting was how different each tribe was and how creative they were in using the resources that they had. When we were done with the tour Christina asked us to make questions and write observations about the museum so she can improve on explaining the different tribes. After we were done with that I helped one of the students from the program with her math and spanish homework. I noticed that many kids from different grades come to this program and they come from many tribes as well. For example, two of the students there are from a tribe named black foot which I thought was pretty cool. I really enjoyed my first day at the Native American Studies Program and I couldn't wait to return the following day.

My second day in the Native American Studies Program was even better. As me and Edgar signed in, Christina greeted us and she began to explain this project she has in mind. She explained to me how Elementary Schools support the program and usually want them to visit the schools and talk to the kids about the Native American culture. She was thinking in sending kits to the schools with simple crafts for children to do and have background information about the object so they can connect it to the Native Americans. An example of a craft that kids could do is making jewelry by using corn or pine nuts which would represent the resources that tribes had like the Plains had lots of corn which would be used as food or jewelry and the pine nuts represent the Californians because they had alot of pine nuts which was also used for food and jewelry. Christina had us and a group of kids make bracelets of corn, shells, pine nuts, and eight color beads. The color of the beads are also symbolic for example the four main colors are black, white, yellow, and red. Black representing African Americans, white would be white people, yellow is Asians, and red representing the Native Americans. They also represent the north, south, west and East. After we were done making the bracelets we all gathered in a circle and Christina held an eagle feather which she passed around and when you received the eagle feather you had to talk about yourself.

I really enjoyed volunteering at the Native American Studies Program. Im looking forward in returning to this program and learn more about the Native American culture and the program itself.

Food for Thought

Volunteering can be very easy once you find the right cause. Unluckily for me, that cause took some precious time to come across. Once I heard that we would need to volunteer at any place of our choice, I had no idea where to start. However, I did know that I wanted to help people who could not help themselves. Coming across a place that would allow an under-aged was going to be the hardest part. As the deadline for the due date come closer I reached out to family to see if they had any idea were I could go. By some sort of magic, I found the exact volunteer work I had looked for through one quick phone call to a woman named Debbie at a small food shelter called Viola Blythe. She told me about the place, were I could find it, and then we shared a thank you. The hardest part was done, and based on her introduction of the place, I knew that I would be learning something important within the next couple of days.

At first sight, it is obvious that Viola Blythe is a smaller, family owned donation center. To be honest I was glad to see it that way because then I knew that my experience would be a welcoming one. Walking up, I was greeted by a kind woman in her later ages. She guided me in to the warm shelter and I was introduced to the owner Debbie Carvado. Looking around, I saw cans on top of cans that were stacked on top of even more cans. "We're so happy to have you with us today!" she said as she motioned me into the food organization and distribution area. "All this food is donated from schools and families from around the city to help feed those in need." To be honest, I was excited to get started. As she continued to tell me about the place I couldn't help but keep thinking the same thing. We all, even as middle class citizens, take this food for granted. I've never thought about how many things we as a whole take things for granted, food especially. There are people who don't have that luxury. That ability to come into their own home at the end of a long day and eat a meal with their family. These thoughts struck much closer to home than I thought. From that point on, I knew that this volunteer project was going to do something good for me. Which is funny because the only thing I was doing while I was there, was helping others be able to do good for themselves.

In my first experience at Viola Blythe, time seemed to go by so fast. I suppose that time goes that way when you are doing something to make a difference in your community. I am glad to to have found such a pure place to spent my volunteer time to help those families who cannot get the food that they need to support themselves completely. I know that I have much to learn about the center and the way it works. However, I have learned the reason why I chose to help people get the resources they need. I think that my reason is to give back to those who give all they can, which sometimes just might not be enough. I was so happy with my first visit to Viola Blythe and I do plan to return soon to reach out a helping hand again.

Tutoring the Youngsters

I had trouble deciding where to volunteer at, my first choice was to help at an animal shelter but it was somewhat of a long process to do that so I thought about volunteering at an elementary school and help tutor students. I ended up going to Cabrillo Elementary and I went to the office to ask how I can volunteer there. The secretary had me talk to the principal Mrs.Hudson, she gave me an orientation and explained to me how the volunteer process worked. She told me how they have several after school programs I can volunteer with, she assigned me to help tutor the kids. I had to pick the days I wanted to come to volunteer so she knew she could depend on me for those days. Since it took some time for her to explain to me the rules and sign stuff she told me I could start my first day volunteering either Monday or Tuesday. I decided to go Tuesday.

I went straight to Cabrillo after school today and talked to Mrs. Hudson so she can show me the class room where I'll be volunteering at. Mrs. Hudson walked me to the class room and introduced me to the students and the teachers in the class room. As I was looking around at the students I seen Steve and Andy in there helping the kids out. One of the teachers told me that they have a sign up sheet for volunteers, so every time we come to help we have to write in the time we showed up and the time we left. Once I did that, this little girl named Danna raised her hand for help on her homework. So I went over to her table and helped her out with her spelling homework, once I helped her with that she didn't need my help anymore. As I was walking around I over heard one of the kids say that they're all ELD students, I didn't know that. I helped this other girl out with reading a book called "The Diary of a Wimpy Kid". I was with her until the after school program ended which was around 4, it ended early today because they have an open house later on tonight.

Volunteering at Cabrillo made me feel better about myself knowing I was helping someone out. I actually enjoyed it since the kids were very polite and the teachers in the class room weren't rude either. I think I will continue volunteering here because the kids interacted well with me and I didn't find it boring. I wasn't allowed to take a picture because the principal told me that we're not allowed to take pictures of the students.

Nothing bundt fun,

So I think my partner and I kind of chilled on the first week or so that this project was assigned, then it hit us that we need to get our community service hours done! Luckily, we found a place called “Nothing Bundt Cakes.” If you don’t know about this place, it’s a cute little cake shop at the hub and several other locations. Their 4 month anniversary was just yesterday! Nathan and I volunteered at Nothing Bundt Cakes because we adore that place, the cakes are absolutely delicious and the environment is so adorable. When we first walked into this place, they were surprised at the approach we came with. They had never been asked for community service..But hey, everyone needs a helping hand! So the manager called their corporate and gave me a call back to say that we can come in and get started on our project, and so we did.

Nathan and I did many different things to help the employees at Nothing Bundt Cakes. For example, (photos below) I filled their cupcake and muffin trays and pour grounded cinnamon on the top, then I had to pour a teaspoon of cinnamon chips on top, after that I had to mix them all in. We also helped them bake their cakes and package them after. Nothing Bundt Cakes have their own name for their products, they call a cupcake a bundtini and a muffin a bundtlet. Aren’t they such cute, creative and catchy names? I also had to put the stickers (photos below) on the little packaging boxes. Overall..I’m happy with where we volunteered. Even though we got a little dirty; it was lots of fun! Plus we got to try hella samples and leftover cakes and cupcakes after,  we were stuffed after those two hours.

During our time at Nothing Budnt Cakes Nabila and I were put to work right away. The manager wasn't sure what we should do, but figure out just to give us small daily tasks. We couldn't help with the creation of the batter or the different flavors they have there due to the secrecy of the recipes. So instead we put stickers on the packaging and helped put the batter into the cake molds. As well as trying all the free samples they had there, which by the way were soooo gooood!!!!!!!!! I had a great time helping them out all of the employees were very nice people and had open hearts. I think on the next hours that are do i want to do something more meaningful, but i would love to help out Nothing Bundt Cakes again because i had such a great time. 

This is the front and inside of Nothing Bundt Cakes.

Making cinnamon swirls :)

Stickering the boxes for the little cakes. This was probably the most frustrating thing in the world. lol

Our surroundings. The top are the ribbons and stuff for decorating the boxes and such.

Our masterpieces!

A WORK IN PROCESS

As I started looking for places to volunteer at, I had multiple expectations for myself. I didn’t want to go anywhere I where I wouldn’t enjoy myself and I want to do something with kids, that were certain. I thought of the elementary schools I went as a child, that’s when I remembered that my freshmen year I had volunteered at Cabrillo Elementary School to teach a group of students a dance after school for 5 De Mayo. I knew it was too late to teach kids a dance routine, but I had the thought of volunteering as a tutor. I have always been able to work great with kids and seem to be able to explain things to make them seem simpler.

Contacting them didn’t seem to be a problem since one of my classmates, and partner, lived around the corner from the school. She mentioned that a group of juniors wanted to know if we could help out as tutors at the after school program. He said that he and the children would love to have us there. The program I volunteered at was called Prop 49. It’s an after school program where children stay after school if their parents can’t pick them up right away. There the kids do homework and if finished with their homework, the kids are allowed to choose from multiple activities, outside and inside, to attend while being supervised. It gives kids a chance to interact with other kids from different grades.

The first thing I noticed was that the kids were kept in groups by grade levels. Kids up to the 4^th grade are kept in the cafeteria whether they are done with their homework or not. The 5^th and 6^th graders are kept in two different groups, if they are doing homework they stay in the science room and when they are done they get sent to a room connected to the cafeteria where they can choose an activity to do. I only got the chance to work with the younger kids in the cafeteria. Most of them behaved great, but like always there are always the trouble makers and the shy ones. For example, one little girl wouldn’t talk regardless of how much we tried to help, another boy would just start heavily breathing when any girl would get close to him, and the most memorable boy was the one whom we asked if he needed help and he answered, “I’m not cheating and I DON’T NEED ANY HELP,” with an attitude. For the most part I enjoyed myself and I will most definitely be going back to help out next week. I think i just need some getting used to.