An accredited course (SOC 110) studying the history, practice, and philosophy of volunteering - an exciting part of Young Judaea and FZY's Year Course.
There wasn't anything specific at volunteering that stuck out this week, therefore I will just touch on a few different things. To start, a group of students and teachers put together a tekkes for Itzhak Rabin. Though it was all in Hebrew, I know it was a really nice ceremony. The kids who were a part of it were incredible. Some spoke, which made me incredibly proud. Public Speaking is hard for the average person and to see these special needs students speak to the entire school, students and teachers alike, was amazing. The kids I work with have so much courage, not only in this situation, but in life in general. Working with special needs kids 4 days a week has made me think a lot about my life and my future. I really appreciate my fully capable body and the ease with which I have been able to live my life. The kids I work with try incredibly hard to do simple tasks that other people take for granted. They wake up everyday and some cannot even get out of bed without the help of another person. However hard they must work to live, they go into everyday life head on and stick with it through the long haul. There are those few kids who sit and don't try, but there really are only a few. Most of these children appreciate every day. Even on days they are clearly struggling and in pain, they still smile. This kids may not be able to write, walk or do calculus, but they have an understanding of life few other people ever grasp.
I was inspired to bring my camera to work by a friend, and I now have the most adorable pictures adn videos. I can now remember my little kinder eggs forever! One day this past week I was the only volunteer to show up. It was my best day yet. I felt so needed and as if my presence truly made a difference. There were even times when I felt like we could use those extra hands, and it made realize that maybe we aren't over staffed at my Gan like I thought we were. I mentioned a couple entries ago that I had finally learned the importance of my volunteer placement; that being the mixing of special needs children with regular children at a young age. I talked about this with the scout who lives in my apartment. I also talked to her about my concern of the Gan being over staffed, and well, I talked to her about it all. She pointed out to me that even if my work doesn't always satisfy me, I should still consider it rewarding since I did learn something new. I was glad to hear her say that. I'm not sure why, but I guess its self explanitory. We still havn't tried to implement our own activity. I really want to. I'll try and bring it up tomorrow. I want to draw long horns on paper and then give the children burnt orange confeti to glue inside the lines. Those are good skills for them to learn plus they would get to learn more about Texas. :] I can't believe this time is just flying by.
This week has been just a normal week at the gan. I definently feel more responsibility there and I feel like I am really depended on there. One day I could not go because I got sick, and the next day at work I could tell that I was truly missed. I have realized that I do play a big role at the gan and with all of the kids there. I know that they do survive without me on the days when I cannot come, but I know that they enjoy having me there and enjoy my company. The kids and I have such a strong relationship that I know will just become even stronger as I continue my volunteering throughout the next month. It is so nice to see how the kids get so excited to see me everyday when I show up in the morning. I really feel like I play such an active key role there. I love just being there for the kids and taking care of them when they need me. Sometimes I do feel like the teachers put extra pressure on me to do all of their dirty work. For example, everyday Jen and I have to sweep up the sidewalk and rake up the leaves just because the teachers are too lazy to do it themselves. At the same time this does give me something to do and even if I am given the dirty work, I know that I am still helping at the gan and contributing in some way or another.
I am an educator who has been living in Israel since 2001. Since 2005, I have been collaborating for the Lookstein Center for Jewish Education in the Diaspora
3 comments:
There wasn't anything specific at volunteering that stuck out this week, therefore I will just touch on a few different things.
To start, a group of students and teachers put together a tekkes for Itzhak Rabin. Though it was all in Hebrew, I know it was a really nice ceremony. The kids who were a part of it were incredible. Some spoke, which made me incredibly proud. Public Speaking is hard for the average person and to see these special needs students speak to the entire school, students and teachers alike, was amazing. The kids I work with have so much courage, not only in this situation, but in life in general.
Working with special needs kids 4 days a week has made me think a lot about my life and my future. I really appreciate my fully capable body and the ease with which I have been able to live my life. The kids I work with try incredibly hard to do simple tasks that other people take for granted. They wake up everyday and some cannot even get out of bed without the help of another person. However hard they must work to live, they go into everyday life head on and stick with it through the long haul. There are those few kids who sit and don't try, but there really are only a few. Most of these children appreciate every day. Even on days they are clearly struggling and in pain, they still smile. This kids may not be able to write, walk or do calculus, but they have an understanding of life few other people ever grasp.
I was inspired to bring my camera to work by a friend, and I now have the most adorable pictures adn videos. I can now remember my little kinder eggs forever!
One day this past week I was the only volunteer to show up. It was my best day yet. I felt so needed and as if my presence truly made a difference. There were even times when I felt like we could use those extra hands, and it made realize that maybe we aren't over staffed at my Gan like I thought we were.
I mentioned a couple entries ago that I had finally learned the importance of my volunteer placement; that being the mixing of special needs children with regular children at a young age. I talked about this with the scout who lives in my apartment. I also talked to her about my concern of the Gan being over staffed, and well, I talked to her about it all. She pointed out to me that even if my work doesn't always satisfy me, I should still consider it rewarding since I did learn something new. I was glad to hear her say that. I'm not sure why, but I guess its self explanitory.
We still havn't tried to implement our own activity. I really want to. I'll try and bring it up tomorrow. I want to draw long horns on paper and then give the children burnt orange confeti to glue inside the lines. Those are good skills for them to learn plus they would get to learn more about Texas. :]
I can't believe this time is just flying by.
This week has been just a normal week at the gan. I definently feel more responsibility there and I feel like I am really depended on there. One day I could not go because I got sick, and the next day at work I could tell that I was truly missed. I have realized that I do play a big role at the gan and with all of the kids there. I know that they do survive without me on the days when I cannot come, but I know that they enjoy having me there and enjoy my company.
The kids and I have such a strong relationship that I know will just become even stronger as I continue my volunteering throughout the next month. It is so nice to see how the kids get so excited to see me everyday when I show up in the morning. I really feel like I play such an active key role there. I love just being there for the kids and taking care of them when they need me. Sometimes I do feel like the teachers put extra pressure on me to do all of their dirty work. For example, everyday Jen and I have to sweep up the sidewalk and rake up the leaves just because the teachers are too lazy to do it themselves. At the same time this does give me something to do and even if I am given the dirty work, I know that I am still helping at the gan and contributing in some way or another.
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