Project Read helps them up
Volunteers read and give support to children who are looking for stability
By: Marissa Willman
Issue date: 5/6/08 Section: News
Every Monday night a group of Cal State Fullerton volunteers dedicate their time to strengthen the reading skills of underprivileged children at Project Read, a program focusing on promoting literacy among children living in a transitional home.
"Project Read works to promote literacy and provide mentors for these kids," said Jo Laurista, a senior and psychology major who is one of the project's directors.
The volunteers work at the Anaheim Interfaith Shelter, a transitional housing project providing assistance to families that are facing homelessness.
"These children are in very unstable environments because of their living situations and the nature of their daily lives," Laurista said. "We're here to give them a stable and comfortable environment."
The shelter provides a nine-month transitional housing program along with other services such as child care.
"They have really tough lives because they're moving around all the time," said Alisa Contreras, a sophomore biology major and project director. "Their lives are so unstable and yet they're so happy and they stay positive."
Despite their positivity, the children often fall behind in their schoolwork.
"What I've noticed from children I've worked with in the past from the project is that they tend to be behind in their academics," Laurista said.
The volunteers reserve time to help the children with their homework from all subjects before focusing on reading.
"A day at Project Read includes homework time, 15 minutes for a break where the kids get to stretch and play a game and then 'story-time' and a related activity," Contreras said.
One night, after reading poetry aloud from a book in the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series, the children were instructed in how to write poems that reflected themselves.
"It's a great program because a lot of these students don't have a person in their life who encourages them to grab a book and learn new things," said Susana Lagarde, a volunteer and undeclared freshman. "These children are willing to learn but they need to be guided in the right direction."
"Project Read works to promote literacy and provide mentors for these kids," said Jo Laurista, a senior and psychology major who is one of the project's directors.
The volunteers work at the Anaheim Interfaith Shelter, a transitional housing project providing assistance to families that are facing homelessness.
"These children are in very unstable environments because of their living situations and the nature of their daily lives," Laurista said. "We're here to give them a stable and comfortable environment."
The shelter provides a nine-month transitional housing program along with other services such as child care.
"They have really tough lives because they're moving around all the time," said Alisa Contreras, a sophomore biology major and project director. "Their lives are so unstable and yet they're so happy and they stay positive."
Despite their positivity, the children often fall behind in their schoolwork.
"What I've noticed from children I've worked with in the past from the project is that they tend to be behind in their academics," Laurista said.
The volunteers reserve time to help the children with their homework from all subjects before focusing on reading.
"A day at Project Read includes homework time, 15 minutes for a break where the kids get to stretch and play a game and then 'story-time' and a related activity," Contreras said.
One night, after reading poetry aloud from a book in the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series, the children were instructed in how to write poems that reflected themselves.
"It's a great program because a lot of these students don't have a person in their life who encourages them to grab a book and learn new things," said Susana Lagarde, a volunteer and undeclared freshman. "These children are willing to learn but they need to be guided in the right direction."
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