MOKULEIA, Hawaii -- “Just seeing the way the kids have changed in the past week is awesome,” said Pvt. Brad Lindholm, administration clerk, Headquarters Company, Combat Service Support Group 3, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay. “It’s so rewarding to know that you are really making a difference with each day you spend with them.”
Lindholm, an Orlando, Fla. native, has spent the last week volunteering for the Breakthroughs for Youth at Risk organization, working with children from Kailua Intermediate School.
According to the Breakthroughs for Youth at Risk Web site, the program is designed to dramatically alter the behavior of at-risk youths. The youths are children who have a hard time at home, failed school, abused drugs or alcohol, have been arrested, do not see much of a future for themselves, or frequently run away from home. These are just a few of the characteristics displayed by many of the youths who are considered at-risk.
During the week-long program, 41 students from the Kailua Intermediate School volunteered to participate in discussions and activities designed to help boost self-esteem and provide inspiration to take a better path, said Sharon Lester, volunteer and course manager for Breakthroughs for Youth at Risk.
“This is the fourth course that we’ve done here in Kailua, and the first time that we are doing it with an intermediate school,” said the Milwaukee, Wis. native. “We enrolled the group in May and even though this is the only week-long stretch, we will continue working with the group for the next nine months.”
During the week, the children participated in hula, tai chi and Pilates to help inspire them to want to stay healthy and fit, said Lester. Another day involved a rope course at North Shore on the YMCA Camp H.R. Erdman. When not participating in activities, the instructors held discussions with the children to encourage them to talk about things that may be bothering them.
“If they always hold back their problems, they are left with anger and hopelessness,” said Lester. “We try to let them know that they do have the power to control what is happening in their lives and that they really can fulfill their dreams.”
During various activities, the children are encouraged to take on the role of a leader and to listen to everyone’s suggestions, said Lester. They acknowledge everyone else’s opinions and try to work together to solve the problems.
“I had a great time doing everything, but one of the best things was being able to talk about my problems,” admitted Adrien Lema-Peters, a Kailua Intermediate student. “I think it really helped me to know that I’m not the only one who feels this way and know that there are people who care and are willing to help.”
Lema-Peters wasn’t the only participant who was encouraged by Breakthroughs For Youth at Risk organization events and discussions.
“I would say for any kid who’s not sure about trying something like this is to just give it a try,” said Nika N. Carlson, 13. “I gained a lot of trust and confidence, and learned a lot. I want to get a nursing degree one day, and this program gave me a lot more confidence in myself to reach my goals — it’s definitely worth trying.”
Lester said that their goal is to eventually run four different programs per year for both intermediate and high school students and that the organization is always looking for volunteers. For those interested, log on to www.break throughshawaii.org, or call the Kailua Intermediate School at 586-3230/3232.