Empowering youth with Relationships, Resources, and Real experience to be the change they want to see
Our innovative international e-mentoring program, interACT, sponsors a life-changing trip to NY as part of the mentoring process. You can make this amazing experience reality by participating in our Holiday Giving campaign to give our 14 deserving South African mentees a bite of the Big Apple!
January 18, 2010 - THANK YOU to everyone who made the 2 week NY interACTive experience powerful and transforming: we believe every person involved walked away enriched. We’ll be publishing our newsletter in the coming weeks. We’re looking forward to an even greater 2010 and are currently looking for mentors for our next class. If you’re interested in the March start date, please apply here!
A Glimpse into interACT: We’ll update this section regularly with mentor/mentee responses to our various writing prompts. Below: Call to Action- In preparation for the NY trip and inspired by our President’s response to his Nobel Peace Prize award, each mentee wrote on his/her ‘Call to Action’. Mentors then responded with a recommendation letter for their mentee
To Whom It May Concern,
I highly recommend Mishqa to come to New York City for many reasons. During her trip, Mishqa will have a chance to job shadow multiple people in her field of interest (education and child care), experience New York’s culture, arts, and be motivated that she too can have a bright future. Many of my colleagues and friends have already volunteered to take her around. From a public teacher in an NYC public school, a diabetes center for children, a women, infant, and child care clinic, nutrition center, and other work places not in the immediate field (including Bloomberg, law offices, etc.), I believe there are so many invaluable things that Mishqa can learn from those places. Also, just seeing the diversity in New York, where people of her skin color and race have equal opportunity and have achieved many things and climbed many mountains, will inspire her to do the same. Even if apartheid is officially abolished in South Africa, the country still has a long way to go in terms of social integration and acceptance. You may say that about places in the US as well, but I think that it is to a different degree in South Africa.
Mishqa and the other high schoolers at the School of Hope are from underprivileged backgrounds - poverty, foster homes, parents/friends with HIV/AIDS, racism, the legacy of apartheid - and they do not have high aspirations for themselves. Many talented and smart individuals resort to being subservient laborers because they are not encouraged to continue their education. However, I’ve witnessed Mishqa’s resilience and determination to overcome her circumstances, help others around her, and also give back to the community/ family in which she was raised. It is students like Mishqa who will be world changers. I believe this is the first step that we can take to alleviate poverty; working in the communities where it has started and changing the mindsets. As the program continued, her writing prompts became more in depth and helped me see her life and relate. She realizes the importance of youth and also making friends that will encourage and help you grow positively and not bring you down.
One of Mishqa’s best childhood memories is the pair of Rollerblades she received when she was in 3rd grade, about 10 years ago! With this trip, we hope not only to add to the list of memories that will stay ingrained in her memory, but moreover, leave a long lasting impact that in turn she will bring back to the community and motivate and inspire the others around her. This kind of impact is so immeasurable and priceless. Especially since Mishqa wants to work with youth, she can touch so many lives!
I have been so inspired by Mishqa’s heart for others, her dedication to her family and community, and overcoming adversity, that it has motivated me to talk to my friends and family about her and encourage others with her story. I hope that it will do the same for you.
Meet the Mentees! Learn more about the lives touched by the interACT Mentoring Program.
