A Volunteer Success Story I had to write about myself

Working as an Urban Youth Volunteer in Paraguay can include a wide range of activities and volunteer Melissa Salamon is completing her service in Coronel Oviedo using that mentality to positively affect local youth. From the very start of her service she formed a youth group at a community center comprised of kids ages eleven to fifteen. The kids were cautious at first; unsure of the new American with the funny accent, but after a year and a half working together they have formed a close-knit faction focused on improving their community center and the community that surrounds it.

 

Members of the youth group participate in activities relating to health, self-esteem and leadership skills as well as creating their own projects to improve the community center such as planting trees and obtaining trash cans from a local cooperative. Together members of the group have raised money to go on outings by hosting soccer tournaments and raffles. Their cohesion was exemplified after the recent passing of one member when together they presented the boy´s family a banner covered in messages they had written expressing their sorrow for the loss.

 

In addition to working with the youth group Ms. Salamon also teaches in local schools where many of the members attend classes. In the high school she presents activities related to self-esteem, communication, gender relations, and HIV/AIDS awareness. Teachers from the classes with which she works repeat the activities with youth in other local high schools, therefore reaching a larger audience. In the elementary school Melissa is teaching computer classes to children who had never seen or touched a computer before but are now able to manage several programs. Ms. Salamon also works with young mothers to promote healthier lifestyles through cooking classes focused on vegetarian and soy recipes, as well as an exercise group that meets three times per week. Although her activities are varied and wide-spread Melissa has positively impacted the lives of many youth in her area. Their appreciation is often demonstrated not only in words but through behavior changes which will hopefully stay with them forever.