PROFILE OF A VOLUNTEER

For this week’s blog assignment we were asked to describe the work of someone who has impacted the lives of others through volunteerism.  I could not come up with just one person that I know so I decided to use a group of individuals I have worked with in the past who open their hearts and their homes each year – these are the volunteer families who host foreign exchange students for ten months each year who are recipients of either the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) or the Youth Exchange and Study scholarships.  Host parents receive no payment for hosting foreign exchange students from either one of these scholarship programs. 

The FLEX program is made possible by funds allocated annually by the US Congress. The program is administered by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which awards grants to private, non-profit organizations to help run different components of the program.  The Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program was established in 1992 under the Freedom Support Act to encourage long-lasting peace and mutual understanding between the United States and countries of Eurasia (pieusa.org).

The Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program gives students who are ages 15 – 17 the opportunity to live with a host family and attend a U.S. high school for an academic year.  Students eligible to apply are from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, or Ukraine.  Besides having the opportunity to attend a U.S. high school, FLEX students are required to take part in enrichment activities which include a civic education workshop.  They are also given the opportunity to become alumni for the grant program and mentor other students who are applying for the scholarship.  The part I love about this particular scholarship program is that it is open to students with special needs as well.  These students are offered an Independence Skills Training and the Leadership Reentry Workshop to assist their transition into American life and to readjust to their home countries after their exchange is over (exchanges.state.gov). 

The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program was established in October 2002.  The YES program was a result of Congressional discussions following the events of September 11, 2001 and it was established to foster understanding between the United States and countries with significant Muslim populations.  YES students are from Bahrain, Bangladesh, Gaza Strip, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mali, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Senegal, Tunisia, West Bank and Yemen (pieusa.org).

YES scholarship recipients spend one academic year in the United States, living with a host family and attending an American high school.  While in the USA, students engage in activities to learn about American society and values, acquire leadership skills, and help educate Americans about their countries and cultures.  The YES program is made possible by funds allocated by the US Congress and the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs administers it.  Grants are awarded to private, non-profit organizations to help run different components of the program (pieusa.org).  There is also a YES Abroad Program which is available to U.S. citizens attending high school (age 15-18.5) who wish to spend one academic year or a semester in select countries (yesprograms.org).

I am so fortunate to still be in contact with so many great young men and women who came to the United States through these programs.  I think I learned as much about their countries as they did about ours.  The great part is the learning continues and does not end for either side.

References

Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program. (n.d.). Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program. Retrieved from http://exchanges.state.gov/youth/programs/flex.html

Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) | Pacific Intercultural Exchange. (n.d.). Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) | Pacific Intercultural Exchange. Retrieved from http://pieusa.org/grant-programs/future-leaders-exchange.html

 

Home | YES Program. (n.d.). Home | YES Program. Retrieved from http://www.yesprograms.org

USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO GET CONNECTED

For this week’s blog assignment we were instructed to review the learning resource “Social Media Advocacy: Five Influential Steps” (E-Advocate, 2011) and consider our own experiences with social media.  Then we were asked to reflect on how we have used social media to connect with others in our world, and, if we have not yet used social media, how this tool might be utilized.  Then we were asked to consider social media within the context of our advocacy work, and think about how the varied forms of social media might be used to build awareness and passion around a particular issue.

I will begin by admitting that I probably spend more time on the computer (after my necessary child care work and class work is completed) than I should but this is one way in which I keep in touch with everyone since I spend so much time at home (given what I do and how my schedule is at the present time).  I currently receive email newsletters for multiple organizations from all around the world which provides me with the needed information resources I require in order to effectively advocate for the children and their families in which I work with.  I also have accounts on Facebook and Twitter.  I currently use Facebook more than I do Twitter as those individuals I am keeping in contact with seem to be more active on Facebook.  I find Facebook useful (besides getting the opportunity to play some very addictive games) as a great way to keep in touch with those of like mind to me as well as the organizations from around the world which provide useful information on research, etc.  For example, I use Facebook to keep in touch with Yours For Children, Inc. (the USDA food program I work with to provide nutritional meals for the children in my care).  There are always new postings of great ideas in how to teach children about good nutrition, trainings, research, and easy contact with others in the same field.  As licensed child care providers we do not get to meet with each other too often so this is a great way to keep in contact and share ideas, etc.

I have also discovered the fun of blogging and love writing on this blog each week.  I look forward to continuing with this practice even after I finish this degree.  In the near future I will more than likely supply a link to it on my Facebook page.  The more I use Facebook the more I see the potential to reach so many other individuals.  The only resource I do not upload any items to is YouTube but I have used the website when instructed to do so in past classes.

References

E-Advocate. (2011). Social media advocacy: Five influential steps. Retrieved from http://eadvocate.wordpress.com/social-media-advocacy-six-influential-steps/

 

ADVOCACY MESSAGES

For this week’s blog assignment we were asked to post two or three advertising campaign messages that we believe are inspiring.  The two that I chose are:  “Every Beat Matters” (everybeatmatters.org); and “You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent” (adcouncil.org). 

I feel that both advertising campaigns send effective messages which therefore will create action on the parts of individuals.  When deciding on which advertising campaign message I wanted to use, I read the overview of “Every Beat Matters” and I found it to be very well presented and it peaked my interest right away (gave statistics such as 7 million children in the developing world die of largely preventable or treatable illnesses before they reach the age of five – that equates to roughly 19,000 child deaths a day; listed the diseases such as leading causes of death which include newborn complications, pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria)(adcouncil.org). Once I finished reading the overview, I went to the website www.EveryBeatMatters.org and was able to watch the TV commercial as well as see how the song which used real children’s heartbeats was created in order to spread the word for the importance of the need for Frontline Health Workers.  The website itself was great as well as it give ways each of us can take action (www.everybeatmatters.org).

As a foster parent I was drawn right to the advertising campaign “You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent.”  I remember this advertising campaign very well and really believe since it portrayed regular people, who are not perfect, that it made an impact on individuals who may normally not take that next step to adopt from the foster care system.  These ads where meant to reassure prospective parents that even if no “perfect,” they have the ability to provide the stability and security that children in foster care need and deserve (adcouncil.com).  I also liked how there is available case studies; real stories; and research which backs up these two advertising campaigns.  I would recommend that anyone interested in these topics visit the websites for more information.

 

References

Ad Council. (n.d.). Ad Council. Retrieved from http://www.adcouncil.org/

Adopting Children from Foster Care. (n.d.). Adopting Children from Foster Care. Retrieved from http://www.adcouncil.org/Impact/Case-Studies-Best-Practices/Adopting-Children-from-Foster-Care

Every Beat Matters. (n.d.). Every Beat Matters: A Campaign by Save the Children. Retrieved from http://www.everybeatmatters.org/