St. Mary’s College in Moraga requires their students to be engaged in the community. One of the available classes is entitled “The Least of These: Marginalized Children in the Bay Area”. Under the leadership of instructor Mitali Perkins, students read, discuss, and write papers about the impact of hunger, violence, and under-resourced schools on children.

In an Oakland school library

Ten students partnered with Children Rising, serving with the Children Rising staff and volunteers in our Excel Reading clinics, libraries and STEM labs. Our elementary school scholars loved having the college students read with them, conduct STEM activities together, and talk about college in their future. They weren’t the only ones who loved the experience. Here are excerpts from St. Mary’s students’ reflections.

“During the past two weeks, I never once felt pity when working with a child. Instead, I had the warm fuzzy feeling in my heart that made me want to better myself. I believe these children have changed me for the better and changed my outlook on life.”

Helping at the STEM computer lab

“These children are stronger than we think because they deal with struggles I forget about. I worry about my iPhone dying too fast, while these kids worry about what to eat and where to live.”

“The principal at Prescott Elementary left us with one strong piece of advice. Instead of asking ourselves ‘What do I want to be when I grow up’, we should ask ourselves, ‘What do I want to change in the world?’ “

“Although I may not have changed any child’s life in the short two weeks, they have changed mine. They have opened my eyes… I feel like this course and experience with Children Rising has expressed a calling for me. This is something I want to do. I want to warm the children’s hearts in the same way they have warmed mine.”