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I did Hand in Hand last year and really enjoyed it. My buddy's name was Wongsakorn and I really loved the time we spent together. It's an honor to work with kids at Hancock, to hear about their lives and try to impact them by showing them they are important and are loved by this community. .
”
‐Hand in Hand Volunteer
Hand in Hand mentors spend time with their Hand in Hand buddies in a variety of meaningful ways.
Where do buddies meet?
Game and Play Time:
Writing Folders:
Buddies typically meet for sessions near the Hand in Hand Buddy Cabinet, located near the cafeteria. You and your buddy may use unoccupied space on Hancock grounds. Some ideas are: the hallway (where the buddy cabinet is), the cafeteria, the gym, or the playground (if a teacher is out there with their class). You may not take your buddy off Hancock property unless it is for a Hand in Hand sponsored Large Group Event. If you have any questions about where you can go, stop in the office and ask. For safety reasons, you must be in plain view at all times with your buddy. You may also have lunch with you buddy any day during their lunchtime in the cafeteria.
The Buddy Cabinet is full of fun and educational games that you and your buddy can play with. There are also sports related toys available for outside play. Game time is a good way to build a relationship with your buddy.
You will engage in writing with your buddy and keep this writing in a folder. For example, one buddy pair might develop an entire story based on a memory she/he has. There will be many resources provided to you (next to the buddy cabinet) to prompt and inspire your buddy to talk and write about themselves. This project will require a lot of your guidance. It is an opportunity for you to get to know your buddy better and vice versa. The more you get to know your buddy, the more you will be able to guide your buddy in writing and talking about topics that they are interested in. Altogether it is also a tool to allow your buddy to develop and share his/her story and other writing.
Focused Discussions:
A core initiative of Hand in Hand is to promote college awareness in the lives of Hancock youth. We ask that you center some of your discussions with your buddy on college related topics. Ask your buddy about their hopes and dreams in life and share your growing knowledge about college. Connect their choices in school to post‐secondary access. Model your academic behavior.