• David
• events
• December 27, 2011

SDC Blue Ribbon After School Connection – Fall 2011 – Term Summary

by David

The SDC Blue Ribbon After School Connection Fall 2011 Term has ended in success. The After School Connection is an after school activity for children with disabilities; the first term was held every Monday after school from 3:45-5:00 PM. Below are two summaries of the term from a member of the Admin Team (The team from the SDC Blue Ribbon Foundation responsible for organizing the After School Connection), Serena Li, and a Buddy (A volunteer who is partnered with a child), Virginia Su.

Admin Team Summary:

There’s this saying, “smiling is contagious,” that I hold true to.  Every Monday, after that last school bell rings, a group of zealous and enthusiastic volunteers pile in through the doors of the Richmond Centre for Disability.  Laughing and telling jokes, their happiness is susceptible to the younger children with special needs.

When the two groups combine, magic happens that can make one’s heart flutter with a warm fuzzy feeling and you can’t help but smile along with them.

 

Mondays seemed to be the most fun day out of the entire week!  For the first 30 minutes, the children and volunteers are free to converse among themselves about anything at all.  With the joy of snacks nearby, everyone is included in friendly social interactions.  Amongst these conversations, a variety of icebreaker games are usually played from simple ones like ‘Simon Says’ to ones that require more movement like ‘Musical Chairs.’  The children were welcomed into a enjoyable and safe environment with the volunteers as their leading role models.  Of course, children are children, and some did not always like these games and would rather do something else.  This was a great opportunity for the volunteers however, to practice their problem solving skills and either talk to the child one-on-one or lead them back into the game. The 30 minutes never seemed enough though.  The admin team sometimes had to add in a few extra rounds even after calling out “last round!”  After free time, Joyce, a registered music therapist would come in and start off her curriculum for the day.  For 45 minutes, Joyce would lead the children into introducing themselves and each other, doing fun vocal warm ups that allow the children to express themselves, playing rhythmic games with bongo drums, practicing facial expressions and movements, and more.  When the day ends, some children don’t even want to go home.  In one incident, a child was pulling their buddy towards the board games and whined to their parent about playing some more.

Their big buddy bent down and coached him through the situation, which showed a special connection between the two.  Eventually, the young child went home, but a little happier because he knew that he would be able to come back the next week. The SDC After School Connection may seem like another exciting after school activity to the kids, but in truth, they are learning life skills that they can use in their daily lives.  The SDC Blue Ribbon Foundation, Richmond Centre for Disability, and Joyce, plan each Monday for the kids to experience a balanced learning and playing adventure.

Term one has already ended with great reviews from parents and volunteers alike.  A simple blueprint for term two is already being planned out.  I can’t wait to see another term of bright smiles lighting up the RCD activity room!  The SDC Blue Ribbon Foundation would like to thank all their charismatic volunteers, for lending a helping hand and making a difference in a child’s life, as well as RCD and Joyce for all their support thus far.  Thanks to everyone who helped out and see you all again next year!

-Serena Li

 

Buddy Summary:

As a high school student, volunteering was not a relatively new concept to me. While each volunteer opportunity has impacted me in different ways, this program has given me a unique experience that has made me reach for a deeper understanding, and to a certain extent– re-evaluating my personal values. After hearing a brief description of this volunteer  position, I thought of it as an ordinary volunteer opportunity. The position itself sounded simple enough – helping kids through weekly music therapy sessions. However, after my very first session, I realized the true extent of how wrong I was. This was an experience that was completely different than what I was used to.

Firstly, I realized that there were many expectations that came with this position. Volunteers were expected to understand, adapt and adjust to every situation. While this may seem simple enough, events that transpire are often incredibly unpredictable. High school students whom have had no prior experience working with the children with disabilities were put into many situations that prompted them to think and act quickly. Due to the circumstances of this position, this experience could be more accurately described as an enriching learning experience rather than a simple chore to pad your resumes.

From this experience, I have been able to reach a broader understanding in terms of disability and people with disabilities. I realized that the most important thing is equality. People with disabilities have constantly fought a battle against public prejudice, and only by this experience was I able to realize just how important this equality was. Even the kindest sympathy could be seen as the most insulting attitude. I have also been able to develop and refine many of my personal skills during this experience. I was able to develop my people skills, communication skills, and most importantly – leadership skills. I think I can speak for all of the volunteers when I say that this was an exceptional experience that has impacted all of us in one way or another.

-Virginia Su