gysdlogo_smallAs we start looking forward to Global Youth Service Day 2009, coming up on April 24-26 we’ll be looking back at some of the awesomeness that was GYSD 2008, as well as some other planned projects around the country.

Reaching out, using existing resources, building community: these are the tools we use for the art of Campus Kitchens. So when the Campus Kitchen at Wake Forest created what became a Global Youth Service Week, they created a thing of beauty.

“We outreached all over campus to see how we could add support to already existing events or needs.  Campus Kitchen did it’s best when we did not invent the wheel.  Instead, we showed our leadership by supporting others work and added our own flair,” said Jenn Baron, then-coordinator of CKWFU.
Their own flair meant in one case, bringing together a community dinner, a group of 10-12 Wake Forest students called the Living Parables troupe who write original skits  with a philanthropic, spiritual mission, and the Children’s Home, a local Montessori school.  They made the connection through Jamie Lee Peterson, a Leadership Team member, and it was an occasion of  “entertainment, positive mentorship, and love,” according to Jen. “Apparently the kids enjoyed it so much, that the volunteer coordinator told Campus Kitchen that the children asked to revolve some of their experiential learning around drama and acting.”

Through their outreach process, CKWFU was also able to connect with Volunteer Service Corps’ annual DESK event. They helped 12-ear-old Jose with painting a desk to use at home. “And paint we did!” said Jenn.

“This experience was personally a favorite for me,” continued Jenn. ” It was amazing to see so many clubs and organizations out on the Mag Quad of Wake Forest on a beautiful day painting and interacting personally with children who had similar interests to the organizations, and were eager to do well in school.  The experience was very hands-on and tangible, and I find that this type of volunteering built a lot of community among our leadership team and also allowed us to support the community in a new way.”
Beautiful.

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