What is HelpingHands?

Helping Hands is a literacy program pairing prekindergarten students at the Orleans Community Action Committee Head Start preschool with youth in their community who want to make a difference.

The program is a partnership between you and a four year old that focuses on building literacy (early reading, writing, listening skills). You will be teamed up with a partner that you will help throughout the year growing and learning together.   Each week you will work on a scheduled activity together, or attend a special fieldtrip.  During this time, you will make a special friend who looks forward to seeing you each week!

This program will allow you to help in two ways; first to help your partner recognize letters and words, enjoy reading, and have fun. Second, to show you and the community how important and valuable you are in the learning process. You will find you are learning new things too-about young children and about yourself!

You will have the chance to get to know your partner and build a special relationship!  You will also have a lot of help along the way.  Youth Coordinators (from Head Start) will be there each week to help you understand your job and lend a hand as needed, Youth Mentors (older high school students) will be there to help as needed, your Social Workers will be at school to talk to if you need support, and you will have each other (other youth) for support.  Each week you will journal about how the program is going for you.