Sitting on the plane about to depart NYC, I can't help but think back on one of the highlights of the trip. Two hours into cleaning up the neighborhood park, a young girl turned to me, leaned on her rake, and said, "I'm so tired, but this is so much fun." She sighed, smiled, and then went back to raking. We continued to work together and with the help of some other kids, we picked up litter, cut back overgrown ivy, cleared a path, and planted some bulbs.
It rained on and off throughout the morning, but nothing could dampen our spirits. As my time there came to an end, I was struck by what had occurred in only a few hours. A dozen people ranging in ages, and from different parts of the country and city, had come together and bonded over one common goal- to make a difference...and we did. I left the park soaking wet, smiling, and thinking, "I'm so tired, but that was so much fun."
D-29ers do WHATEVER IT TAKES!
Wow, with only a week to prep for a fundraising activity, the D-29ers managed to pull off a great event and raise $300! This $ will go towards purchasing new sports equipment for their school. They are wonderful examples of teamwork and of what it means to do W.I.T.!
Play Ball!
Now the Room 5 students no longer have to use rocks for bases. As William said, “It gets really confusing to figure out which rock is what base.” Recess games should run more smoothly now that “Bases on the Field” is completed. High-fives all around!
B-5 Students Stay Positive…
Despite the fact they were told that their project will cost between $500k-$1mil., the students in B-5 are staying positive. As one kid said, “We’re gonna have to sell a lot of lemonade!” They think the next step will be meeting with the district personnel to explain their project and seek more support. They are also considering starting a smaller project (perhaps a school garden) that they can work on as they continue to get a field built at their school. I don’t think anything will keep these kids from doing W.I.T..
W.I.T. Around the World
As many of you know, W.I.T. projects are done locally and around the U.S., but did you know that we are going international?! This spring we will be partnering with a school in Lithuania and our next stop is Kenya. Mrs. Hanssen had a chance to visit the young women at Daraja Academy in Kenya and found them to be an intelligent and inspiring group of learners. She also found out that their school might close because there isn’t any clean water for the students. They need a well which will cost about $3,000.
Back to the Big Apple
I’ve been invited to come back to NYC in a couple months for another community service project. If I can…I’ll be there. Thanks to the supporters and fans of W.I.T. we continue to grow and get busier and busier. We’re thrilled about the progress and although it can be tiring… “this is so much fun!”
Keep showing CHARACTER COUNTS! and….
Keep doing WHATEVER IT TAKES!
Love,
Miss Hernholm
P.S. To all you WitKids out there from 2005- the present you are inspiring & amazing!
P.P.S. Check out our WitKids Facebook page and our Cause Page…become a fan. J
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