There are a lot of possibilities to help others, complete social service and NHS hours high school students need. Three different events each in different dates and places give the opportunity to learn new experiences and complete the hours needed. Students from The Columbus School are already highly interested in each event.

What are this events about?

“The event ‘Navidarte’ is a great opportunity not only to complete social service hours required to graduate but also to share experiences with homeless people; you usually ignore them in the streets, but with this type of event you realize they have beautiful stories to tell.” Samuel Montoya, Navidarte’s manager.

Navidarte will be held December 3rd, they are different training sessions to understand how homeless people usually think, and what questions you should ask, what should you say and shouldn’t say.  They are two more christmas events, christmas party in the school and ‘Cartas al niño Dios.’ In both, students can share a day with kids with low resources and damnified families.

The Columbus School christmas party, directed by Mary Luz Meza, Columbus Foundation manager.

This event will be held on December 9th, it really fills ups your heart seeing kids with such low resources and in shameful situations having a great time, they appreciate more the time you spend with them than the material gifts. It will be amazing to have all high school students in this event“ Mary Luz Meza

Approximately 400 to 600 kids will be coming to campus that day, with a sports day-like activities. They will have a play dance presentation, food and gifts. One hundred high school students have already signed up to play with them all day.  

‘Cartas al niño Dios’ managed by the apostolic organization, Soñar Despierto, counts with approximately 1500 kids benefited from the event. You spend the whole day playing with them, there will also be food, different shows and santa giving out gifts to them.

Life changing experiences

“This christmas I want my parents to come back for me” 7 year old girl from Gente Unida Foundation said. “I love ‘the event’ you invite me to every year, I get to see santa and I have a lot of fun with ‘the volunteer’ that spends time with me, they hug me and play with me, my parents never did that.”

Kids assisting the events wait the whole year for this day to come. They are anxious, not only for the gifts and for santa, but to spend the whole day playing with someone and receiving the attention they don’t get at their homes.

“Most of the kids we work with, or have a connection with Soñar Despierto have a lot of complicated situations we don’t fully understand since we have way more privileges. Cartas al Niño Dios is a magical experience for them, it’s as if all their problems and tears suddenly went away and got exchanged by smiles and hope.” Catalina Alvarez general director of Soñar Despierto said.

What do TCS students think?

“I registered to navidarte because it seemed really interesting to meet people completely different from me, that live in different situations, I don’t need social service hours but this event really caught my attention.“ Gregorio Noreña, 9th grade student.

Various Columbus School students are interested in this events, not only for the social service hours but also to gain a great life experience. Already 40% of high school students have registered to this events.

“Last year I went to TCS christmas party and to Cartas al niño Dios. I believe this christmas parties offer a great environment for the volunteers to interact with kids with low resources and be a role model to them” Maria Luisa Correa 11th grader.