2008 Woodie Awards
With the help of Sunshine Kids, children 'shine'
Joe Di Guglielmo
Issue date: 2/15/07 Section: Features
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Being an older sibling enables you to act as a mentor to a younger family member. Our university offers a way for those desiring to experience mentoring through the Sunshine Kids program.
Sacred Heart offers the program as a way to help the Evergreen Network, which is a group dedicated to helping those who are affected by HIV/AIDS. Often times the child may have a family member suffering from the disease or the child themselves may have HIV/AIDS.
Students are matched up with children between the ages of 5-13 and meet on a weekly basis for two hours from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
"We meet the kids in the campus Ministry Office and for the most part keep them on campus. Part of the vision behind Sunshine Kids is to expose the children to the everyday aspects of college life: eating in a cafeteria, what a residence hall room looks like, hanging out in Hawley Lounge, using computers in the computer lab, etc." said Mandy Pittman, director of the program.
Students gain experience of working with kids through this program, while also developing the ability to be more patient and flexible. They may also find becoming attached to the children and some say it is a definite highlight of their college career.
"I have loved working with Sunshine Kids over the past three years. Each year has gotten better and better. I have worked with the same kid each year, and he has really grown up," said Laura Murphy, junior, River Vale, N.J.
"Sunshine Kids has improved my college experience because I can do service work right on campus," said Murphy.
Others looking for service hours towards their scholarship will find that their time with the kids does count for those requirements.
Students engage the children by keeping them busy for the two hours they are on campus each week, providing them with a learning experience.
"The first hour we may decide to do homework, play games in Hawley Lounge, go on the computer, or do a fun activity with the rest of the kids in the group - like bake or make Christmas decorations. Sometimes we also take the kids on trips such as pumpkin and berry picking. We have a picnic planned for the spring time as well. The second hour we eat dinner and socialize with the whole group," said Kristine Sisco, junior, Wood-Ridge, N.J.
Sacred Heart offers the program as a way to help the Evergreen Network, which is a group dedicated to helping those who are affected by HIV/AIDS. Often times the child may have a family member suffering from the disease or the child themselves may have HIV/AIDS.
Students are matched up with children between the ages of 5-13 and meet on a weekly basis for two hours from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
"We meet the kids in the campus Ministry Office and for the most part keep them on campus. Part of the vision behind Sunshine Kids is to expose the children to the everyday aspects of college life: eating in a cafeteria, what a residence hall room looks like, hanging out in Hawley Lounge, using computers in the computer lab, etc." said Mandy Pittman, director of the program.
Students gain experience of working with kids through this program, while also developing the ability to be more patient and flexible. They may also find becoming attached to the children and some say it is a definite highlight of their college career.
"I have loved working with Sunshine Kids over the past three years. Each year has gotten better and better. I have worked with the same kid each year, and he has really grown up," said Laura Murphy, junior, River Vale, N.J.
"Sunshine Kids has improved my college experience because I can do service work right on campus," said Murphy.
Others looking for service hours towards their scholarship will find that their time with the kids does count for those requirements.
Students engage the children by keeping them busy for the two hours they are on campus each week, providing them with a learning experience.
"The first hour we may decide to do homework, play games in Hawley Lounge, go on the computer, or do a fun activity with the rest of the kids in the group - like bake or make Christmas decorations. Sometimes we also take the kids on trips such as pumpkin and berry picking. We have a picnic planned for the spring time as well. The second hour we eat dinner and socialize with the whole group," said Kristine Sisco, junior, Wood-Ridge, N.J.
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