Girls Inc. Girls + Volunteers = Magic
If you could put a huge smile on a girl’s face, and feel great about helping girls thrive, would you? More than 1,000 Girls Inc. of Alameda County volunteers say yes!
“There is something magical about pairing our girls with adults in the community who are so excited to lend their talents and energy to the work we do,” said Nicki Guard, Community Engagement Manager at Girls Inc. of Alameda County. “The kids go bonkers when the adults walk in, and our volunteers love it – it is absolutely a two-way street.”
Volunteers fill a meaningful and necessary role at Girls Inc. At every level of Girls Inc. and for every grade, volunteers build a bridge from Girls Inc. programs into the community. Some examples include:
- After-school tutors support academics so girls can excel in their coursework, take advanced classes, and graduate from high school.
- Corporate groups who come for a day do everything from practicing one-on-one to improve reading, explore science activities outside, and help girls build websites.
- Internship hosts bring girls into their workplaces, introduce them to possible careers, and teach them life-long professional skills.
Classroom volunteering in the elementary grades is particularly impactful. The personalized attention directly impacts reading advancement and helps girls grow their confidence and love of learning. And data shows that volunteers in the classroom improves student attendance. When students know the volunteers by name and get excited for their visits, attendance rises.
Michelle, a volunteer with a background in biotechnology research, jumped into a cooking program with girls and helped them see the connection between making spaghetti and chemistry. “Days at Girls Inc. are the best days of my week,” she said. “When I work in the classroom, kids often stay with me during recess to work harder on their homework. When they get a problem right, or sound out a word correctly, their confidence soars. One girl told me last week, ‘you make homework fun!’ These girls are just amazing.”
Girls Inc. is always looking for volunteers! Learn how you can get involved here or sign up for our volunteer newsletter here.
