Jeremy Ranch Students Get a Real Life Lesson

The NHC, along with the Chier Foundation, sponsored an assembly at Jeremy Ranch Elementary on September 18th for the 5th grade students and their parents.
The students are currently studying American History and had participated in many activities involving immigration. Jeil Michael Yai, a "Lost Boy" from Sudan made an appearance to discuss his journey coming to the United States. He shared many of his experiences with the 10-11 year old children who were immediately in awe with his size (6 feet 7) and his kindness. He discussed the situation that led to a civil war in Sudan and how he fled his village, losing two brothers and his father to the continuing war and violence in his country. He continued his story taking his audience to Ethiopia and told of the many difficulties he faced during the 1,000 mile journey.
Jiel spoke to the children for a short time and opened up the conversation by answering the never ending questions the better part of the hour. The children were most interested in his family. They could not imagine that he has not seen his mother in almost 20 years. They were also curious what he ate and what he wore while he was on his journey throughout Africa.
Jiel's story is remarkable. He learned the alphabet by writing in the dirt with his fingers. He did not receive any formal school books until he was in the third grade. In the five years he has lived in Utah, he has nearly mastered the English language, he has become an United States citizen, and he has enrolled at the University of Utah currently a graduate student in economics. This is truly the lesson we were after and one we wanted to share with our children.
The Chier Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides funding for 26 "Lost Boys" while they attend college. There are currently 150 of these exceptional young men living in Utah.

Chris Waddell Speaks about Nametags

On April 19th, instead of doing homework, our children visited with Park City paralympian Chris Waddell, who made a special appearance at the Neighborhood Homework Club to talk to our group about his new youth program called "Nametags". We took this oppourtunity to have Chris speak to our children about giving people a name tag, a label, without honestly looking at the individual. Our children are at a perfect age to start a conversation with them about how you talk to people within the disabled community and that it is fine for them to stare and ask questions. Starting a dialogue is what is important to understanding, tolerance and ultimately acceptance. All things we need more of in this world.

The children had a chance to share their medals, trophies, ribbons, and accomplishments with Chris who brought along some of his many Olympic medals.

How many of you have held an Olympic medal? I have!

Neighborhood Homework Club sponsors the robotics team "Super Battle Droids"

The children from Super Battle Droids, a robotics team of 9 and 10 year old students from Salt Lake and Davis counties, visited the Neighborhood Homework Club to showcase the robot they designed and built as part of their participation in the FIRST LEGO League program. These children have been invited to attend an international competition in Atlanta in April, 2008.
Robotics programs have become very popular around the country and these children demonstrated their enthusiasm for the personal rewards of teamwork and problem solving. For more information please log onto www.firstlegoleague.org

Dr. Tami Goetz meets with future scientists

Dr. Tami Goetz, the State Science Advisor, was a recent visitor to the Neighborhood Homework Club. The children showed off their science fair projects to Dr. Goetz after a successful science fair showing for the NHC children. Dr. Goetz was a guest speaker at the NHC in February as part of an effort to inspire the children to "think big" with their projects. She followed up with the club members as they were able to show off their posters and awards they received for their hard work.