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Kareth

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1 reviews

Review for Operation Understanding DC, Washington, DC, USA

Rating: 5 stars  

OUDC taught me more in one year than any other institure of learning did in my entire life. In the program we learned about important Civil Rights figures such as Revrend Billy Kyles, and Doug Jones, the lawyer who, after many long years, brought those who were responsible for the infamous 16th Street Baptist Church bombing to justice. We also met with the African Hebrews, which was a HUGE experience that shook my own moral existence!! We also visited different kinds of synnagouges and churches, some of which were very interactive, and others that were very deep and spiritual, and some that were both. But what really made the experience so much more meaningful was going through it with my classmates and my faciliatators, AJ, Jon, Leslie, and Liz. It was somthing about the selection of my twenty-eight other classmates that was too perfect-not because we all got along perfectly, but because we all had unique perspectives and ideals that we were not afraid to share with each other. That is the kind of atmosphere and strong community that OUDC breeds, and that is why the program helps to create a better sense of Understanding between indiviuals of all kinds of backgrounds, wether they be socioeconomic, religious, racial, cultural, or even age-related. In short, this program is absolutley PHENOMENAL!!! My faciliatators warned me that this program is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and that even if I were to go visit all the same places with the same people, it wouldnt be the same--and they were absolutley right. Throught this program I feel as though now i finally have a purpose, and that purpose is to fight injustice in any way that I can. OUDC has given me the tools to stand UP and speak OUT, and to get others to do the same. (The program even gave me a new passion for reading, which i never used to do!!) I know that anyone who joins OUDC will have their minds opened, and their ambitions focused on building a better tomorrow.

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

My school, in other peoples schools, and in some synnagouges where Jewish graduates of the program have become rabbis. Also, my faciliataors who did OUDC have made great strides in their communities by educating their friends & families about wat we learn

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

Advocate more of the same, but try to get more speakers if i could. I would also try to get more people to donate and more people to join, because the program should be larger so more people can learn what we did.

What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...

Having debreif sessions with my class. The quest speakers and museums were great, but the debreif session were when we could excahnge ideas on how we felt or what we learned through the day. it was when our puzzle pieces all came together.

The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...

EXTREMLEY intelligent, even though they did teach like sophists or schoolteachers. They were very patient with us when we were tired. Also, they are incredible because they tracked down our speakers and organized the entire program, which shows dedication

If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...

Expand the length of many of the classes & of the summer journey, get more students per class, and possibly give students the money they might need to start campaigns or organizations to further their cause. The program could also advertise more.

Ways to make it better...

The trip was longer. Even though I felt exhausted by the time i left the month-long trip, i knew that there was still much more we could have visited in the South, because we would always have to leave museums early to catch other appointments.

In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...

Getting more donations, & getting more people to join. Because the program isnt very big, its often hard to find donors, and so I hope by writing to you the program gains more publicity so it can grow. Kids often dont care about the program enough 2 join

One thing I'd also say is that...

The program breeds a generation of young leaders in a way that no other program can. It showed me how anyone can be a hero in this world (even our busdriver shared his story on how he helped save victime of Katrina!) and it also helped me to branch out.

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

2009

Role:  Volunteer & Learned about black and Jewish culture, and how to use this knowledge to fight racism.