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Headstart
Description: Headstart is a national federally funded program that supports the positive growth of low-income children. Our group’s work is geared toward positive role modeling and teacher support. Volunteers travel to nearby Waterville, N.Y., to participate in activities such as playtime, reading, and general help within the classrooms.
In 1995, the Early Head Start program was established at a national level to serve children from birth to three years of age as the earliest years matter a great deal to children's growth and development. Head Start programs promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families.
Community: Children in Waterville, N.Y.
Volunteers say: "I have loved working at Madison Elementary school. I help the kids with their writing, dance, and sing with them, and play with them during free time. I starting paying attention to one boy, Tyler. He was having trouble writing and didn't seem to interact well with the other kids. The other day, he was writing, and wanted my help.
"I saw that he didn't need my help to write, but just wanted my attention and friendship. When I looked at his sheet, I saw he could trace his name so much better than when I first began. I like working with little kids and wanted to make a difference in their lives. I like helping them learn and know that people care about them. Encouraging other students to volunteer – I would describe the amazing feeling when five four-year-olds surround you and give you a big hug. I would tell them how good it feels to know you might have made just a little difference in these kids' lives. You don't realize how much you mean to them. When I walk in the room, they get really excited. They know I care."