Small Town News

West Rehoboth students learn to dream big

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Six-week program wraps with dinner, awards

After six weeks of learning, organizers of the West Rehoboth Youth Program say the participants are ready to take on the world.

Parents, teachers and children gathered at West Side New Beginnings on Aug. 5, to celebrate the end of the program

Students and parents were treated to a homemade dinner, and students were given certificates" celebrating completion of the program.

Lynne Mifflin, one of the two program instructors, said, "I just want to give praise to all of the students and young people that attended the program this summer. They were awesome. They made my summer time that I spent here very enjoyable."

Program Director Diaz Bonville said, "It was six successful weeks. I think we have to attribute tiiat to the teachers - Mr. Hudson and Pastor Mifflin - and also to our parents and our youth leaders. And of course the children. They were ready. They were ready to embrace our learning concept here. They were learning without realizing they were learning."

Bonville said this year has been one of the best summers the program has ever had in terms of student and parent participation, as well as youth volunteers.

"We want our kids to be ready so that when they go back to school, we feel like they are ready to take on the world. One of the things that was taught to our children was to dream big. We were amazed and impressed by some of the dreams some of the kids had," he said.

Bonville said the program encourages students to get involved in volunteer work, and the kids have responded. All of the students signed up for a 4-H program and have helped volunteer to make the community of West Rehoboth beautiful.

Students also received personal care packages. In addition, as a reward for their participation and success in the program, the students will take a trip to the National Great Blacks In Wax

Museum in Baltimore, Md., which highlights historical and contemporary African-Americans through life-size wax figures.

"They're going to get an exciting opportunity to see history, experience history, but also get an educational experience they've never seen before," Bonville said.

Besides educational initiatives, the program also supports healthy living by teaching the kids about nutrition and providing a golf program.

"I believe that kids don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. And these children here, and parents, know we care about their children," he said.

For more information on the West Rehoboth Youth Program, call West Side New Beginnings at 227-5442.





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