Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, America Reads, Geneva Reads and HWS corps are among the most active volunteer programs in the city of Geneva. These organizations provide an abundance of support and activities related to your child’s education and social wellbeing. Hobart and William Smith students volunteer in these programs regularly.
In the following community conversations, we asked college student volunteers to share pictures, talk about their experiences tutoring, and tell us how they support bilingualism and academic success in the community.
Where can I send my child to gain another mentor in their life?
Dell Flood working with Geneva student on their literacy skills in the Geneva Public Library, photo courtesy of May Farnsworth
Big Brothers Big Sisters matches HWS students to children ages 6 through 18 to create support systems and one-to-one relationships. These connections occur once a week and allow for students to get to know other people in their community and share fun times together. Jonathan Garcia, a Mathematics major at HWS who has worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters explained how “These programs give students someone to look up to because we share a non-English native language in common […]. Being able to help someone the way that someone helped me when I was younger. It is rewarding celebrating victories, no matter how small, together”. Big Brothers Big Sisters has been a successful mentor program in Geneva that has benefitted both Geneva and HWS students.
Where can I send my child to get academic support and recreational time in Spanish and English?
HWS students working with Geneva students at the Geneva Boys and Girls Club, photo courtesy of HWS Community Engagement and Service Learning Website
The Geneva Boys and Girls Club is a group of community members and HWS students who provide academic support and recreational activities to 1st-7th graders. Tutors work on literacy development, leadership skills, and computer literacy training. Children can play sports as well as do arts and crafts during their time. The 1st-3rd graders go to the Boys and Girls Club on Goodman Street and the 4th - 7th graders go to the club on Carter Road. HWS Corps works with the Boys and Girls Club to connect HWS tutors and students with Geneva’s students. Sydney Schultz, a HWS student double majoring in International Relations and Spanish explained that, “we focus on reading, math and writing development”.
The Boys and Girls Club is a place where students can get the extra assistance they need academically. It also represents a community that students can flourish in socially. This is truly a great place for students to get in social activity and build relationships outside of the hectic school day. The Geneva Boys and Girls Club has academically benefitted so many Geneva students.
Where can I send my child to increase their literacy skills in English?
Niima Sellah, HWS student doing online tutoring for HWS Corps, photo courtesy of HWS Corps
America Reads is an afterschool program in the local schools that offers individual tutoring to increase literacy fluency. Gabriela Nieves, a senior at HWS Colleges, has volunteered with America Reads and translated resources during COVID19. She explained how “It is so nice to know you are helping people and communities like your own. As a Latina woman, I have seen the struggles that many parents face when attempting to engage with a school system where no accommodations are made, and they do not speak English''. When asked to explain the connection she made to the community she said, “This experience was amazing in allowing me to reach out to parents and give them the opportunity to engage with helpful resources for their children. It was enjoyable to discuss with parents and know that my work made the program accessible to them. I want the kids/parents to know that I loved the work I did, and I loved getting to engage with the community, because I could see my own community in their’s. I loved to see the growth that was happening in our bilingual students as well”. America Reads has greatly impacted those who were affected by the lack of translated resources during COVID-19 and continues to increase the reading levels of students today.
Geneva Reads is an organization within Geneva that also works to improve literacy. Their most influential aspect of their program is their ability to give the community access to literacy materials for little to no cost. They have multiple programs throughout the year to promote the importance of reading and to show children how fun reading can be.
How do college student volunteers support children in the Spanish-English Dual Language Program?
HWS students working in the Geneva Bilingual Classroom during their service learning class, photo courtesy of May Farnsworth
Some volunteers that we asked have not volunteered in these programs but within the Spanish-English Bilingual classrooms in West Street School. Sarah Hammond, a student at HWS who is double majoring in Education and Spanish explained, “It is incredibly rewarding working with children. Seeing them succeed and pick up on small things that you had taught them is a great feeling. The smiles that you get after a fun and engaging lesson are priceless. This also was a great experience for me in order to work with bilingual students, which I had never worked with prior to volunteering. It is also such a great opportunity to be able to help out/volunteer in the community that we are residing in currently”. Erin Griffis, also a senior at HWS who is double majoring in Spanish and Environmental Studies said, “It made me feel like I could make a positive difference in their lives and help them build their own future as well. Geneva kids/ parents should know that we want to help to make Geneva a more connected community”. Through these resources you will be able to find so much assistance and care for your child. The people and volunteers of Geneva want to see your child succeed, and through these resources, your child’s bilingualism will flourish.
Sarah Hammond working in the Geneva Bilingual Classroom during her Bilingual Education service learning class, photo courtesy of May Farnsworth
Erin Griffis and Camila Garcia with students at the Geneva Public Library, photo courtesy of May Farnsworth
These programs in Geneva will benefit your bilingual child in both academic and social ways. These programs can be accessed on these links below:
How can I sign my child up for these programs?
Click the links to find out more about each program and register for tutoring:
Boys and Girls Club: https://bgcgeneva.org
Geneva Reads: https://www.genevareads.org
Big Brothers Big Sisters: https://www.beabig.org
How can I volunteer to help?
Bilingual students at HWS can enroll in diverse courses that offer community engagement opportunities in Spanish: https://www.hws.edu/centers/service/service-learning.aspx
Also, volunteers can contact the directors at each organization or get involved in HWS service initiatives: Service Programs & Initiatives | Hobart and William Smith Colleges (hws.edu).
More methods of contacting for volunteering are through geneva2030@hws.edu and serve@hws.edu
Also check out our socials for more information!
Sarah Hammond working with Geneva student on their literacy skills in the Geneva Public Library, photo courtesy of May Farnsworth