December 2009 Archives

Well, this break isn't going to be much of a break for my project.  As a result of transportation issues and poor timing I'm a ways behind on my hours, so during break I'm hoping to work with both the Make-a-Wish foundation in Portland, OR and the Mother Bear Project.  I also need to work on rewriting Chapters One and Two to include my second organization.  While these tasks are going to make the "break" not so much of a break, I'm still really looking forward to volunteering.  I really enjoy working in the community and I'm a little disappointed that it requires so much effort to volunteer at an off campus organization here. 

In spite of last semesters complications, I have high hopes for next semester.  Now that all my training is complete I can start granting wishes right away and I will hopefully be able to grant at least two or three before the end of my project.  So the end of the semester is the beginning of a fresh start on my project.  Hopefully a start without all of the technical difficulties. 

Last week I stumbled upon an organization called the Mother Bear Project, which sends homemade teddy bears to AIDS affected children in Africa.  I was really excited to find this program because knitting and teddy bears are two of my favorite things and the social problem the organization addresses fits in really well with my project.  While the children that are being helped aren't in exactly the same circumstances both organizations work to bring hope, joy, and comfort to children in the midst of their illnesses. 

While I'm not exactly looking forward to re-writing chapters one and two to include this new organization I'm really happy to have found it.  I was a little concerned about getting enough hours and I think this is really going to help.  In addition to knitting the organization also has volunteering opportunities available to help teach others how to knit the bears and to get them ready for shipping to Africa.  Even though the general social issue is still the same this organization will allow me to work with it from a slightly different angle, giving me more experience and perspective from this project.