Volunteer this summer with AHC youth programs

AHC Inc, a nonprofit in Arlington, VA, is currently seeking volunteers to work with children in our after-school programs and/or 2011 summer camp program. AHC, which provides affordable housing in the Arlington area, has been helping families who live in AHC communities since 1993.

Here's how you can get involved and make a difference:

Summer camp runs from July 11 to August 18. Summer camp is a great time to open up student's eyes to new activities and information. We offer exciting academic and creative activities all tied with great field trips all over the D.C. area relating to weekly themes. Volunteers can also expect to be outside enjoying some fun physical activities with the students.

With volunteers' help and positive influence students become more confident in their abilities and bridge the learning loss gap over the summer months.

We have six different centers you can participate in- two of them are metro accessible (Ballston and Courthouse). This is a wonderful opportunity to meet and work with children in a highly creative and fun atmosphere. We need your enthusiasm and positive attitude to make this summer a great one.


Please check out the website for further information:


http://ahcinc.org/services_resident.html

or contact Jennifer Cavaliere, Assistant Director, Resident Services: cavaliere@ahcinc.org or Alex Hitch: hitch@ahcinc.org

Volunteer Opportunity: AHC's Teen Tutoring Program

AHC’s Teen Tutoring program is growing, which is wonderful, but as the second half of the school year gets underway, they need more volunteers to work with middle and high school teenagers, particularly at Berkeley Apartments, 2900 South Glebe Road, Arlington VA 22206.

Now that the third quarter is starting, students are more and more interested in working hard to get good grades for the year. Volunteers work closely with one student for about an hour and a half one evening a week, which helps build strong mentoring relationships.

To get an idea of what the program is about – and how it’s working – here’s a link to a 90-second public service announcement AHC recently produced with Arlington Independent Media: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrvRl8OgNnE.

For more information about the program, please contact Jennifer Cavaliere at cavaliere@ahcinc.org.

Volunteer Profile: Ibidun Osundare

Ibidun showing kids at AHC the sign for "flirt"

This post is one in a series on CVN volunteers. We've asked volunteers questions about volunteering to give you a sense of why people choose to volunteer with CVN, and to get to know some of our AWESOME volunteers. If you'd like to be highlighted, e-mail us at cvn.bloggers@gmail.com.

Name: Ibidun Osundare
Position with CVN: Volunteer

When did you start volunteering with CVN? My first time volunteering with CVN was as a teacher at the AHC location this Summer, in June or July.  I love to teach kids, and help them in learning more ASL (American Sign Language).

Ibidun volunteering at the APAH Picnic with CVN this Summer

Why do you think it's important to volunteer? I just moved to VA six months ago.  I obey to God first, I feel God encouraged me to find Arlington Volunteer office, where I started volunteering. I started to search on the Volunteer Arlington website because I was involved with with another volunteer from Gallaudet University in volunteer activities with homeless people,  food the people eat,  cleaning up the large farms and animal shelters and more. I learn a lot about teach kids to be bilingual (both in speaking English and being able to sign).  I feel it is very important. My goal is to become a volunteer with high school students and college students.Though a community is made up of MANY needs, what causes are you most drawn to volunteer with? As I have mentioned, I enjoy teaching kids, especially teaching them sign language.  I realized that some kids can be distracted.  They seem confused to set my signer so clear. I try to keep them engaged by using my facial expression to show joy and happiness and quick movement.  This keeps the kids paying attention, so they can learn to sign as well.  I don't want to them getting bored!  I want to show them something new to make difference.  I went to the library for books and DVDs to use as resources.  Wow!  Kids like to watch the ASL DVDs a lot.  They always love me a lot. I expect that they will improve the communication with ASL when they grow up and be able to communicate with deaf people in their communities.

What's the name and website of an organization or non-profit you'd like others to know about, and in a sentence, what do they do? I am involved with different locations related to AHC.  I teach with them as opportunities to demonstrate sign language pop up.  AHC manages several different affordable apartments throughout Arlington. 

What will be your most memorable time volunteering?  
I will write a scrapbook on my most memorable moment, volunteering with ASL, because I want to teach students in West Africa.  I am in touch with several African teachers who want to create a new building of art and African-American Sign Language several summers from now.  ASL education in Africa took off after Andrew Foster brought schools there in 1980.  He was great in creating a boom in children learning sign language; it has greatly improved their educations. 
Andrew Foster has been called the Father of Africa, I hope to be the Mother of Africa by bringing greater communication equality there as well.  I have already volunteered to teach ASL with them and help create more access to communication.  

Non-profit Spotlight: AHC, Inc.

AHC is a private, nonprofit developer of affordable housing in the mid-Atlantic region that provides quality homes for low- and moderate-income families. Created in 1975, AHC has 35 properties with more than 4,300 affordable apartments.

AHC also offers a variety of programs to help families build strong futures, including homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals; affordable mortgage services and loan programs; renovation and repair services for homeowners; and services for residents, including after-school programs, tutoring and adult workshops.

Currently, AHC is looking for volunteers to tutor teens throughout the school year. AHC has been providing one-on-one tutoring to at-risk teens for more than 15 years. Last year, 100% of students who participated in the program graduated from high school and 80% went on to college.

There are 6 locations in Arlington where tutoring takes place and the sessions begin on September 13th. AHC asks tutors for a commitment of one night per week, 60 or 90 minutes per session, and they ask volunteers to commit to their teen from September through June.

If you can make this commitment and are eager to affect the lives of disadvantaged youth, AHC would love to hear from you!

For more information, please contact Jennifer Cavaliere at cavaliere@ahcinc.org. You can also visit AHC online at www.ahcinc.org.