Monday, July 12, 2010

American Corner Summer Service Initiative Announcement

Hello everyone,

After 2 meetings this week with interested individuals to discuss AC-organized volunteer efforts, here is what was agreed on:

1) The best times to volunteer were Saturday or Sunday.

2) We will focus on just 1 (maybe 2) organizations to work with so that we can make a sustained commitment and maximize the positive and lasting impact of our efforts.

3) After looking at several different organizations to work with, interested individuals voted for the one they would prefer to work with most of all. The organization that won this vote was the Amal Association for Single Mothers, which operates a safe house in Tunis for women who have had children out of wedlock and are now shunned by their families and communities and need a safe haven. Amal Association needs volunteers in a variety of different capacities, including teaching basic literacy to the women, providing business and skills training so that women can get on their own 2 feet after they leave the safe house, doing games and activities with the women to build their self-confidence and help them feel normal again, and babysit and play with the women's children.

VERY IMPORTANT: This Tuesday (7/13/2010), Ikram Ben Said, a representative of Amal will be coming to the American Corner at 1:30PM (the time of the English conversation hour). She will be there to talk about her work, talk to us more about ways volunteers can help the Amal Association. If you are interested in volunteering, I would strongly urge you to attend this conversation hour.

Even if you missed past meetings, you can still get involved and come this Tuesday. I hope that many of you will have a chance to attend.

Ravi Kaneriya
American Corner Coordinator

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