“We feel like one family in one place,” explained Munira when asked how living at Hope has changed her life. Munira grew up in Sudan and moved to the United States in 1999. She and her three young children have lived at Hope since 1995. Her eldest child, Fatima is 14 years old and for the past four years has spent most Saturday mornings with her peers at Hope’s Youth in the City mentoring program. Her young brother, Yaisin, age 9, looks forward to Learning in Community where he spends time reading and writing with a mentor alongside his friends. Munira also has been active at Hope and is a community leader in Hope’s tenant group that organizes activities to bring neighbors together. For Munira and her family Hope has been much more than a place to live. She says it’s a place where people care about one another and where she has built a real home for her family.
Camp Readiness Program
Camp Readiness Mentoring Session, Summer 2008
Overview
Hope’s summer camp readiness program is multi-faceted – not only do kids ages 8-14 go to overnight camp for one week – they prepare for camp by building their confidence and skills by participating in a series of camp readiness workshops. In 2009, Hope youth reflect how they thought the Camp Readiness mentoring helped them at camp:
“I learned how to make friends and be a friend.”
“I leaned what to do if someone bullies you.”
“I learned how to talk with others.”
Hope’s approach to working with youth going to camp offers a meaningful opportunity to engage parents and their children at a deeper level. Family, parents and their children participate in a morning of registration and orientation. On the morning of departure, parents cook and host a send-off hot breakfast. The experience gives children, youth and families the opportunity to gather, share stories and honor the accomplishments of the youth.
Camp Readiness Mentorship Topics
- Navigating issues of race
- How to handle conflicts
- How to participate fully
- How to start and strengthen relationships
- How to build trust
We are thankful to the Pohlad Family Charities for providing camp scholarships
Accepting Applications for 2010 Summer Camp Readiness Program: For information please Contact Dhop, Organizer/Family Outreach Coordinator at dhop@hope-community.org or call (612) 435-1673.
