Head Start
I participated in Project Outreach in a section about preschool children. I had the opportunity to volunteer at Head Start in Ypsilanti. Head Start is an American national subsidized program, for pre-school children from low-income families.
As part of the course I volunteered at Head Start on a weekly basis and was a leader of a group of students who volunteered at the kindergarten as well. I helped at one classroom where I got to know the kids and assist the teachers. I supervised the children during their activities and worked one on one with some of them while the rest of the class was working on other activities.
The kids at Head Start were very sweet! I enjoyed the time with them and was glad that I had the opportunity to assist them and the wonderful teachers they had. I especially was close to one kid who I was told lacked a father figure as he came from a single parent home, among other problems. The child had a hard time sharing and playing together with the other kids, he was violent many times and would run off from classes and needed constant supervision. I tried to spend as much time as I could with him. I will never forget his run from the end of the class to my arms when he saw me at the door. I did my best to help him and I was told by his teachers that he was doing better and better. I can't say it is all due to my help but I hope I did help him some.
As the leader of the group of volunteers I held discussion sessions about lectures we had on preschool children and about specific experiences at Head Start Ypsi. I supervised the volunteers’ attendance, read and commented on their weekly journals, and helped with the final project. The final project was an assignment to create something for the kids. My group made special "play boxes" with various topics. For example there was a "restaurant box" that included plastic silverware and plates, a chef hat, laminated menus from restaurants, wait staff uniforms, and so on. Our final project was a great success as the teachers at Head Start mentioned that this was the best final project by any project outreach team!
I think about the kids at Head Start and pray that the head start they got did help and contribute for them to escape the poverty their parents' experienced.