My Nonprofit Reviews

I have been volunteering for this organization since 1989. That is a long time! And some of my favorite experiences have centered on seeing a real difference that we have made in someone's life. I want to share the following story to illustrate how important children and their well-being are to our organization. This took place in Cleveland Ohio, 20 years ago in 1991. We had been invited to do a presentation at a local public school for over 100 children in Grades 4 and 5. Prior to the workshop, the school organizer had warned us that the children had a very limited attention span and apologized for their disruptive behavior, in advance. Well, armed with rattles, drums, and dance sticks, we smiled and met these wonderfully energetic and boisterous kids. The rhythmic pattern of the rattles and the drums enchanted the boys and girls who got up and flew like the eagle and roared like the bear. They all sang the Children of Happiness song and so most of the undisciplined energy that had no where to go got used up and schooled into productivity. Then, we started with the exercise that all the teachers said was impossible. A traditional "game" called "Niki Ki Hi" - a training in teamwork and responsibility. All the children were lined up in 10 rows of 10 and given a dance stick. The object of the game is to pass the stick to the person either in front or behind you without dropping it - and without looking. You are only successful when the person you are passing it to has a firm grasp. This teaches children coordination and the importance of passing only a good and final product to another, eliminating cheating, gossip, and irresponsibility, as well as of course, training eye hand coordination and dexterity. The children all sing "Nikki Ki" - and then on "Hi", pass the stick. there are many variations to increase the challenges. I have seen total chaos erupt with adults, but within minutes, the entire gymnasium was filled with the young voices singing in unison. Their movements flowed in harmony with each other and there was not one dropped stick or flared emotion in over 20 minutes. The teachers were shocked. The children were empowered and it was a very good day.

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