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KIDS WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ยป At PS 6 in Passaic, New Jersey, kids participating in Building Healthy Communities planned and ran a community-wide BHC Health Fair. At the fair, kids took the lead on educating other students, parents, teachers, and neighbors with a wealth of healthy lifestyle information. The kids wanted to serve healthy foods at their fair. In preparation, they wrote a letter to a local ShopRite requesting a tour. When store managers learned kids from an after-school program were on a mission to combat childhood obesity, ShopRite of Passaic donated all the food for the fair. Store representatives were so impressed by how the children managed the event, they offered to provide all the food needed for next year's BHC service-learning projects. |
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Through a program called Building Healthy Communities, kids learn about the epidemic of childhood obesity within the context of their own communities. They investigate the factors that promote or discourage healthy behaviors (such as a lack of fresh fruit for sale in neighborhood snack shops), then devise ways they can combat the epidemic and lead healthier lives. The program operates at 15 TASC after-school programs in New York City, 15 after-school programs in New Jersey and another 15 in Philadelphia.
Kids begin by learning about healthy habits, and mapping their communities to identify assets and obstacles to healthy living. Then they identify an issue they want to address. Kids are encouraged to involve their families and other community members, for example by organizing community health fairs where kids man the information booths, or by taste-testing and adapting their family recipes to improve their nutritional values.
With the support of staff and community partners, kids are guided through the process of developing and carrying out service learning projects. At the end, they reflect on what they were able to achieve. Kids from all three states have opportunities to get together and celebrate the differences they make in their schools and communities.
The Corporation for National and Community Service's Learn and Serve America provides support for Building Healthy Communities. TASC partners with the nonprofit organization Children for Children to support the New York City projects. The New Jersey projects are supported by New Jersey After3, Inc.. The Philadelphia projects are supported by EducationWorks.
