Going the Extra Miles to Help Those in Need
Giving back to a community can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life. Recent Take Stock in Children 
graduate, Nasha Etienne, who attended an outreach trip to the Dominican Republic last spring, applied that concept to provide aid to those less fortunate. She is part of the Service Learning Group, a Florida Gulf Coast University program that provides opportunities for community involvement. The group spent countless hours fund raising and preparing for a trip to work at a boy’s outreach center over her spring break.
Nasha, who is working to obtain her nursing degree, felt that this experience was a life changing event for her. She wants to remain local upon graduation and is very grateful for her education and for Take Stock in Children which gave her hope for her own future. Nasha credits her success to mentor Carolyn Palumbo, as well as Mrs. Lavern Gaynor of the Dellora A. and Lester J. Norris Foundation who funded her scholarship, and Take Stock in Children Director, Linda Morton.
The students of the Service Learning group began preparing for the trip in September, 2010 under the direction of assistant professor and trip coordinator Ingrid Martinez-Rico, by holding a fund-raising event to earn money for travel expenses and accommodations. The group successfully hosted a Halloween haunted house that they had to promote, obtain vendor donations, set up and operate themselves. The benefit of this hard work not only resulted in a successful event, but taught the group communications skills and team work.
The students worked at a center called Accion Callejera, which means “Street Action”. This group works with boys up to the age of 18, to provide them with job skills, recreation, physiological counseling, and education to protect themselves from abuse. They help them determine a career that interests them and provide job placement. The majority of children at this center, many of whom sleep in the streets, have to work to help provide food for their families, shining shoes to try to earn some income.
The job of the students was to provide recreation, puppet shows, arts and crafts and games for these children, who because of their adult responsibilities, forget that they are still children themselves. Nasha noted that while their hands are rough from the hard work, they still have a tender childlike spirit. “The children have a happiness about them, and despite all their issues, still have hope.” remarked Nasha. “No matter what you go through, without hope, what else do you have? All they want is to be loved and cared for.”
On this last day of the trip as the group was making their preparations to return home, Nasha saw one of the children who had participated in the program who ran up and hugged her, and thanked her for the experience. When asked what he liked best about the program, the boy responded, “You come back every year and show me something different!”
Nasha is especially grateful to Linda Morton, Take Stock in Children Director at The Education Foundation of Collier County. “I have known Mrs. Morton for about seven years now. She has always been the person I can go to with any issue and she always does her best to help me.” says Nasha. “She inspired me to be the best I can be in so many ways. She is a great mentor. With the help of Mrs. Morton, Mrs. Palumbo and Mrs. Gaynor, I am just a few steps closer to reaching my true potential.” We will all benefit from such a kind, dedicated and caring individual among us. Nasha, we can’t wait to see what you accomplish next!
Click here to learn more about Accion Callejera.
