Village: Yona
AmeriCorps Projects: Guam Public Library System. We have two main projects that we focus on. They are the Saturday Morning Story Hour and the Summer Reading Program. We are also assigned to plan and organize other literacy programs thoughout the year, such as Teen Read Week and Dr. Seuss' Birthday.
Why I decided to serve: To help others and to give back to the community. Also,
to gain work experience and to help pay for school
What I did: I helped the other AmeriCorps members every Saturday Morning with the Story Hour. I also helped organize and carry out the Summer Reading Program. I was assigned to plan and organize the Teen Read Week.
What I've learned: I've learned to be more responsible and more independent.
What I've gained: I've gained experience in the different sections of the library, such as Circulation, Reference, and Administration.
Village: Yona
AmeriCorps Projects: Clean ups, candlelight walks, Halloween Haunted House, coastal clean ups, Thanksgiving lunch with the Salvation Army for the needy and homeless.
Why I decided to serve: I wanted to do something different and useful with my life, while also helping to pay for my college education.
What I do: I am a mentor at the DYA Correctional Facility. I listen to clients and give them advice if they ask or need it. I also help with any projects that they may work on.
What I've learned: I've learned that you shouldn't judge a person by where they may be. There are a lot of troubled youth on our island who are misunderstood and just need someone to talk to.
What I've gained: I've gained a lot of new friends whom I would normally not associate with. I've gained a sense of worth everytime I did something to help even if it was just a small action.
Village: Yona
AmeriCorps Projects: Skinner Plaza Halloween Activity
Why I decided to serve: I wanted to serve in AmeriCorps for two reasons -- the scholarship and the experience.
What I did: Beach clean ups, candlelight walks, mentoring at-risk youths.
What made the biggest impact on me: Helping clients at DYA to make their life better, and to help them choose the path to success.
What I've gained: I've gained experience for my future career, such as communicating with other people in a different way.
Village: Mangilao
AmeriCorps Projects: Beautifying the island by picking up trash or planting at Ugum; candlelight walks against family violence. For Halloween, we built a Haunted House at Skinners Plaza, and that was awesome! Also, I collected donations for the American Red Cross, and served Thanksgiving Lunch with the Salvation Army for financially challenged families.
Why I decided to serve: It was an opportunity to earn money for college while I am a full-time student. Also, my brother recommended that I join.
What I did: I've tutored students of grade levels K-12, and mentored DYA students.
What made the biggest impact on me: Tutoring kids from Toto Gardens from Elementary to High School levels. For a while, there has been a slight increase in kids and interest in improving their grades in school.
What I've learned: I've learned to sacrifice for others that are less fortunate. Most importantly, I've learned how to deal with at-risk youth from DYA, because in the beginning AmeriCorps members are not trained in dealing with clients.
What I've gained: I've gained appreciation, gratitude, time-management improvements, and friends.
Member Stories
