Kachhaem Sin said the friendships are what she’ll miss most when she’s too old to attend Asian Youth Services.
“AYS has been like a second home to me for my whole life,” Sin said. “I’m sad that I’m getting older and have less free time to spend there.”
Sin, now 18 and a local college student, said she has visited Chicago’s AYS after-school program for as long as she can remember. She said one of her fondest memories of the center is the Northwestern students who have helped out by becoming teachers, mentors, role models and friends.
NU’s Residential College of Cultural and Community Studies has sent volunteers to AYS, 4750 N. Sheridan Road, since the program’s inception 10 years ago, said director Shari Fenton. Oasis community service group sent volunteers at the beginning of this school year.
On Monday night, however, the AYS and NU students swapped venues. About 35 children traveled to Annie May Swift Hall to perform skits as a fund-raiser for the center. The audience of about 150 NU students cheered loudly as the AYS children break-danced on stage to their favorite rap songs.
NU a capella groups including Harmony In Spirit, Purple Haze and Significant Others also performed at the event, which was co-sponsored by Asian American Advisory Board, Asian American Christian Ministry, CCS, Oasis and InterVarsity.
Fenton said NU hosts the fund-raiser once a year to help AYS raise money for rent, food and school supplies for the children. This year’s effort garnered about $720.
“The Northwestern volunteers are absolutely wonderful,” Fenton said. “I’ve so appreciated the help they’ve given to these kids who often fall through the cracks of other programs.”
Fenton said she founded the program to help disadvantaged children succeed. Often the kids come from homes in which neither parent reads nor writes, and Fenton said she wants to give them a chance to rise above their circumstances.
“Too many times parents don’t stress the value of a good education,” she said. “Kids drop out as early as fifth and sixth grade. What they really need are positive role models to reinforce the importance of school.”
NU students go to AYS on Mondays and Thursdays to help the children with homework or just to play with them, Fenton said. The volunteers act as “big buddies” to the children and teach them the importance of building positive relationships, she added.
Weinberg freshman Grace Wu, who volunteered at AYS during Fall and Winter quarters, said the program is both fun and rewarding.
“The kids are really great,” Wu said. “I love hanging out with them and helping in any way I can.”
