The Sewa Aspire Art Enrichment Program ignited a burst of creativity that resonated with everyone involved. What began as a single session of nine weeks blossomed into a sensation, prompting the addition of two sessions per week for the next six weeks due to its overwhelming popularity.

Introducing children from Kindergarten to Fifth grade to a plethora of artistic mediums including crayons, color pencils, watercolors, oil pastels, and mixed media opened doors to endless possibilities. Each session was a voyage of discovery, unveiling captivating techniques such as collages and Valentine’s Day pop-up cards, which kept the children spellbound as they tackled projects they once thought daunting.

The enthusiasm radiating from the children was contagious, fueling the dedication of the staff to deliver even more exceptional experiences. Witnessing the children's eagerness to learn and create inspired the staff to continuously improve, fostering a dynamic environment where growth and exploration flourished.

The Sewa Aspire Art Enrichment Program wasn't just about art; it was about nurturing passion, fostering creativity, and building a community bonded by the joy of expression. It was a journey that enriched hearts, sparked imaginations, and left a lasting impact on all who participated.

Over the past 2 years, the Sewa ASPIRE program has completely changed my life. I discovered my passion for teaching, combined it with my passion for coding, and made a coding curriculum for the students. It started with teaching basics like “What is an algorithm?” Soon, they started creating their own algorithms. And still, we are just scratching the surface of the capabilities of the kids. I’m so glad to be providing the kids with exposure to fields like coding at such a young age, and I’m sure that the things we teach them will change their lives. I love to think about how the lessons we teach them will inspire them. Maybe they’ll remember our bright yellow shirts a couple years from now and think to themselves: “Those were the people that taught me this skill.” This isn’t just a daycare, this is an experience, both for volunteers and students. As volunteers, we get the opportunity to introduce them to what they may aspire to be one day.

Teaching is a useful skill that you’ll gain experience with as a volunteer at the ASPIRE program. The program puts you right in front of the students. Although it may seem very challenging to engage students, it’s a great learning experience that will help you in your future aspirations. The ASPIRE program introduced the kids to many skills. Just to mention a few topics, art, robotics, dance, drama, film production, coding, chemistry, math, English, nutrition, and more. The program is very open to teaching anything that’s meaningful and inspiring to the students. And, of course, we have fun as well.

Teaching at schools in underserved communities was another aspect that Sewa gave me exposure to. It was interesting to teach the students with resources in the classroom being limited at times. In my opinion, these underserved communities have the most unused potential. Teaching at these schools through the Sewa ASPIRE program allows me to make a difference in my community.

I would highly recommend the Sewa ASPIRE program to anyone who is interested in volunteering. Volunteering at ASPIRE definitely made me put in a lot of effort in creating and teaching curriculum for the kids, but I also learned a lot during the program. It’s been a more meaningful experience than any other volunteering I’ve done.

I used to think that Sewa meant serving others, but I now understand that the act of serving itself has a very profound impact on oneself as well.

—Shaunak Jog

Summer Program Experience: My experience working with the Sewa ASPIRE Summer Program at Schilling and Coyote Hills Elementary Schools has been tremendous and enormous. The summer program covered teaching the elementary grade students many aspects of the STEAM education program in addition to specific topics that include Robotics, Programming, Photography, Drama, Dance, Origami, and Magic. The program also included Guest lectures by volunteers from several corporate and non-profit organizations who shared their knowledge and experience in fields of Aviation, Solar Energy, and South Asian Theatre and many more. The high school student volunteers contributed at several levels, and engaged the students with classroom activities. It was amazing to see how the students interacted and learned the several topics that were taught. The summer program was a big success in meeting the Sewa ASPIRE program’s mission to educate and empower all students to think critically and expand their learning to make them successful in future. I am proud to be a part of this team and thank the student volunteers, the entire support team, and my fellow Teachers in accomplishing the goals of the ASPIRE summer program. I would like to specially thank our Program Director, who was extremely instrumental in organizing and executing this program, and without her strong leadership this program would not be a success! – Renuka Jethmalani

Sewa is an impactful organization that promotes involvement, personal growth, and community service. It emphasizes the importance of kindness and the benefits of giving back to the community. Volunteering with Sewa helps people develop their sense of empathy, gain leadership experience, and build close relationships with the community. Participating in Sewa's programs helps volunteers gain massive knowledge about social issues and the value of making a positive difference in the lives of other human beings. The meaning of “Sewa” is service and that is what creates the community impact.

Working with students at Schilling and Coyote Hills Elementary Schools in Newark, California this summer has given me the chance to contribute to the community I live in. I participated in a variety of events, including roller coaster labs, dancing, theater and production, DNA labs, and the natural selection lab that were aimed at destressing the students of these schools. My contributions were to assist students who needed further assistance. I also handled all of the mindfulness-related activities, which included creating hand mandalas, engaging in games, empathizing with others, and discussing nutritious food.

It has been incredibly fulfilling to work with the students at Schilling and Coyote Hills Elementary Schools during the summer. I had the ideal opportunity to interact with the children in a number of significant ways because of Sewa's emphasis on community service. For instance, the natural selection lab gave the students an interactive environment in which they got presented to biology topics. The roller coaster exercise was not only entertaining, but also enlightening, providing a practical introduction to the fundamentals of engineering and physics. The kids' creativity and teamwork were stimulated by drama and production activities, and they were given an easy introduction to complex scientific topics through the DNA labs.

Organizing the wellness programs was one of my most gratifying volunteer experiences. I taught empathy classes, which are essential for assisting students in growing their emotional intelligence and comprehension of other people's viewpoints. Empathy-focused games provided an entertaining and interesting means of teaching these concepts. Students learned the value of a balanced diet and how to make healthy decisions through discussions about nutritious foods.

A creative exercise that helped children express themselves and recognize personal qualities was making hand mandalas. In addition to being beneficial, this exercise helped students in reflecting on themselves and realizing their own strengths. Another utilitarian activity which gave students insight into controlling stress and emotions was creating stress balls. The stress balls allowed students to come into contact with an object which can both be used as a toy and provides a physical outlet for anxiety and nervous energy. Repetitively squeezing the stress balls offered a soothing perceptible distraction which redirects the emotions like anxiety and nervous energy.

All in all, my time spent with Sewa has been extremely fulfilling. It has helped me develop individually and has had a great effect on the community. My volunteer experience has been extremely rewarding due to the relationships I've formed, the skills I've grown, and the knowledge I've shared. Sewa is a prime example of the impact that volunteering can have on children's lives, and it is truly heartwarming to see.

My experience teaching in the summer program was incredibly enriching and fulfilling. Throughout the program, I had the opportunity to engage students in a variety of activities that aimed to strengthen their foundational skills and foster their enthusiasm for learning.With the support of dedicated volunteers. During the first week by focusing on language skills. It was important to me that the kids solidified their basics before starting school again. We covered various language topics, ensuring each child had a strong foundation.

Moving into the second and third weeks, we explored logical thinking through mathematics. I made sure learning was fun and engaging, using puzzles and activities that challenged the students. Seeing their excitement as they tackled these tasks was truly rewarding.

In our final week, we brought joy to the program with dancing and more puzzles. This not only got the kids moving but also encouraged teamwork and creativity. I’m grateful to all the volunteers whose support made these activities possible and to our director, whose guidance was invaluable.

Overall, this experience has filled me with pride. Teaching these children and seeing their growth has been immensely fulfilling. The collaboration with volunteers and the direction from our director made the program a great success. I look forward to applying what I’ve learned in future teaching endeavors.

Thanks Lalitha

This summer, I had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer with Sewa Aspire at a summer camp for kids in grades 1 through 5. I mostly worked with second and third graders, where I was involved in helping teach math and creating fun activities for the students.

What I mostly did was help the students with basic math. We focused on teaching them how to tell time, count money, and understand addition, multiplication, and place values. I used various methods to make these lessons engaging and effective. For example, we used hands-on activities with clock models to teach telling time. These interactive methods helped the students better grasp concepts and made learning enjoyable.

In addition to teaching math, I organized and played educational games with the kids, such as hangman. These games were not only fun but also helped improve their spelling and vocabulary. Through these activities, we were able to build a connection with the students and create a positive learning environment.

Volunteering at the camp was a completely new experience. I loved seeing the students excitement as they learned new skills and their smiles during the games we played. It was gratifying to know that our efforts were making a difference in their summer experience. The joy and enthusiasm of the kids made every day enjoyable.

Overall, my time with Sewa Aspire was a fantastic experience that allowed me to contribute to the students growth while also developing my skills. It was a summer filled with learning, laughter, and growth, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of it.

My name is Dhaathri Vijay; I volunteered with SEWA at Schillings Elementary and Coyote Hills Elementary and, overall, it was an extremely enjoyable and fulfilling experience!

I first helped teach 2nd through 5th grade at Schillings Elementary, and assisted with the art class. It was very cute to see how excited the students got at each art project, and they were all genuinely excited to create something and use new materials. I often migrated from table to table, watching the kids to make sure they were following directions and being there to help if it was needed. It was rewarding to interact with the children and share their excitement when they finished their project. It was inspiring to see how focused and attentive the students became while learning or when they were interested in what was being said. At both schools, the kids were super bright and friendly, which made teaching and guiding them an amazing experience!

The other volunteers also made volunteering at SEWA very fun. I became good friends with the other helpers, and we bonded over our experiences teaching the children and the fun we had while doing it. I always looked forward to not only teaching the students, but also seeing the friends I had made through volunteering! During our breaks, we would always laugh and talk together, which created a comfortable atmosphere that made our volunteering experience even better. We often discussed the classes we had taught or brainstormed new ideas for activities with the students.

Though my experience was overwhelmingly positive, I was challenged when making the shift from helper to teacher. I taught the art class; even if it was only for one week, I learned a lot through this experience, especially about responsibility, communication, patience, and—most importantly—fun! I spent a lot of time thinking about what projects I should teach the children, taking into account the available materials, the grade I was teaching, as well as how enjoyable the craft itself was. This process demonstrated to me the importance of planning and adaptability in teaching as each child worked at their own pace and had their own unique approach to the projects. This required me to be flexible in my teaching style and find different ways to engage and assist each student. Additionally, I realized the value of clear communication, as providing simple and effective instructions was crucial to ensure that the students understood and enjoyed the activities. I struggled a bit when it came to catching the students’ attention. Often, I would have to call for their attention two to three times before they listened, or their actual school teacher would have to step in on my behalf. This frustration was always overshadowed by the excitement and enthusiasm the kids exuded when I would unveil the project I prepared, and I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to meet and teach these kids.

Volunteering at SEWA was an extremely fulfilling experience—one that taught me about teamwork, leadership, and community.

SEWA has brought me a bundle of different experiences, all of which have been fun and great learning experiences. Every day is a completely different experience, as each day I get to meet new students and engage in meaningful activities. I deeply appreciate Sewa for providing me the opportunity to be a part of this amazing program and be a part of its inspiring mission to help others. One of the most enjoyable aspects of my experience was bonding with the children and having fun together. Building relationships with the students allows teaching to be more fun and engaging. Every day, we brought completely new and engaging activities for the students to participate in. A few of the most memorable activities I had the pleasure of being a part of included building our own lava lamp, building robots with Legos, as well as creating DNA structures made completely out of candy. The students enjoyed the lava lamp activity the most as they were able to learn so many different concepts through hands-on experimentation. The project focused on the principle of density, and how different liquids of different density don’t mix, which is the fundamental concept behind lava lamps. They were especially fascinated by the reaction between vinegar and baking soda, which created a visually captivating display of colorful oil blobs rising and falling in the water. Each activity hosted is designed not only to be engaging and fun but also serves as great learning opportunities. They teach the students valuable skills such as following directions, teamwork, and creativity. The joy and enthusiasm on the children’s faces as they engaged in these hands-on projects is incredibly rewarding. I can see the impact our program makes, as over the weeks the kids grew more and more closer to us. As time passed by, the children became increasingly excited for our lessons, and frequently asked when and what the next SEWA session was going to be hosted. Their enthusiasm is top-notch, with some kids even going as far as to suggest lesson ideas for future classes. It is incredibly rewarding to see the children be so engaged with the program, proving our efforts have made a positive impact on the school, which always brings a smile to my face.

My volunteer experience in the Aspire summer camp was lovely and incredible fulfilling. It was a pleasure to work with amazing people like Lalitha, Victor, Shilpa, Amruta, for name a few; and the enthusiasm and creativity of our young volunteers.

In the beginning, I was nervous if I could teach English since it is not my mother language, but after helping Lalitha with the classes, I realized I knew the topics very well, and only I needed to believe in myself and to improve my confidence.

In the following weeks, I worked with one of our best volunteers, who contributed with a lot of great ideas, making the teaching experience very unique. Our students were so engaged and excited that they made my days.

My main focus was to find and help kids who recently arrived in the United States of America. These kids don't understand English, so they were lost in class. We thought they didn't like to talk, but I started to talk in Spanish, and they couldn't stop talking to me. Luckily, I got their confidence. They asked me to teach them English. They really want to learn and be part of the group.

I am very thankful for being part of this program and for meeting our director Sudha. It's always a pleasure to work for a leader instead of a boss.

Sincerely, Beatriz ( Betty)

Sewa. It means selfless service. Contributing in any way you can to the greater good without thinking about how it helps you. And what better way to serve than to educate? Than to provide service–selfless service–that betters everyone it spreads to? Providing such an opportunity to educate is Sewa Aspire. Their program not only gives you volunteer hours, but also certifies them for you to receive a Presidential Volunteer Service Award.

But what is this program all about? You aren’t just a summer program instructor for kids at underprivileged schools–which by itself is incredibly rewarding; you are a leader, a friend, an inspiration for the kids to aspire to become.

Leader. Aspire hands you an opportunity to master the art of speaking and being engaging in one of the toughest and easiest environments to do so– in front of elementary schoolers. They will not hesitate to call out your faults and are often incredibly hard to manage. However, all of that melts in front of the happiness on their faces when they see you again, in front of their positive energy and innocence that is the future of our world.

Friend. Kids aren’t rigid, unemotional boulders yet. They’re still young–untainted by the harshness of the world. So when you make an effort to get to know them and have fun with them, they’ll respond. They’ll be the bestest of your friends, growing so attached to you that you'll even miss them at the end of the sessions. And it’s not just the kids that will become your friends–it’s your fellow volunteers. After spending all those lunch breaks together, you’ll be closer than two peas in a pod.

Inspiration. And while you do get to have all this fun and leadership experience, that’s one more thing you’ll get to be. The kids look up to teachers at this age, and that’s the same for you. You have a chance to make a lasting impact on so many kids’ futures, and that’s what will keep you coming back year after year after year.