I am about two months into my summer internship at By the Hand Club for Kids, which has been gratifying. Unfortunately, my time here is quickly reaching its ending point. I am enjoying my time so much that Interning here is flying by so fast and does not feel like work!
During a normal day of Summer programming, I was able to sit in a music class for 1st graders. It was a beautiful moment to witness the students praising God by singing and dancing to Gospel music. I even discovered that a few of my students had a true gift of singing and should consider pursuing it.
On Friday, June 30th, we were able to treat students that made A’s, B’s, and C’s to Great America. Many of the students that went on the trip had never been, so it was great to see their faces light up as we were getting off the expressway and began to see the rollercoasters. All of the children and staff were able to attend for free which was truly a blessing. I chaperoned two students which was both fun and nerve-racking. Thankfully all three of us had a blast and no one, including the rest of the students got injured. It was a long day, but definitely worth the lifelong memories.
Yesterday, for our second personal development field trip with the other interns, we went on a Bronzeville Walking tour in Bronzeville, Illinois. Our supervisor, Peter set this trip up in order to explore the rich legacy of African American life in Chicago within the neighborhood. It is vital to learn about the contributions of different communities to Chicago’s history. There, we visited the Victory Monument, erected in 1927. The monument was built to honor the Eighth Regiment of the Illinois National Guard. It was refreshing to see the beautifully built homes in Bronzeville and view them in a positive light.
By the Hand feels that it is important to have the students visit surrounding neighborhoods outside of their normal environment and participate in fun activities. So the students attended and I chaperoned at the Insect Fest in River Forest. The students were able to go on a bug hunt, explore bugs through dance and music, and create their own clay insects. It was a fun and unique experience for them. It is important to expose the students to different types of activities to help them better discover new interests and passions!
During my time at the internship, I have been given various projects to work on. My supervisor has tasked me with ensuring the staff has completed their Mandated Reporter Renewal training. The purpose of the training is for staff to understand the role they play in protecting children by recognizing and reporting child abuse. This project has strengthened my data entry skills and polished my time management skills. It is my responsibility that the staff has received my email to remind them to complete it and to make sure they complete it before the deadline.
Another project other interns and I were given was to pack backpacks filled with new school supplies for the upcoming school year. The backpacks are for students that do not have the means of getting their own school supplies, so thankfully we were able to provide the students in need through a kind donation. We were able to pack well over 200 backpacks which was both fulfilling and amazing.
– Camille Jefferson, By the Hand Club for Kids