 Service
Learning at Raritan Valley takes place in many venues, but few situations
are more rewarding as when RVCC students enrolled in the program act as
role models and mentors for young people. For the first time this semester,
a student in Mark Cozen's Marriage and Family class, El Hakim, and another
in Sarah Roche's Two-Dimensional Design course, Jessica Hildelman, are working
with young African-American students from Somerville enrolled in Project
RISE (Ready to Inspire Self to Excellence). They are helping them to become
computer proficient while teaching them African-American history. This program,
which takes place Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings at First Baptist
Church at High and Mercer streets, is sponsored by the National Council
of Negro Women's Raritan Valley Section. Chief organizer is Evelyn Field,
a member of the Raritan Valley Community College Board of Trustees. "A
lot of the kids in this program come from single parent homes, and they
feel the stress that burdens their families," said El Hakim. "And
even if the parent is working, he or she can rarely afford the cost of computer
tutoring or enrichment education like the kids are getting in Project RISE."
One of the new developments in Project RISE this year is that it has incorporated
another program that participated last year in Service Learning at RVCC,
Middle Earth. The Somerville- based Middle Earth also provided an after-school
place for youngsters to do their homework, get a healthy snack, and seek
counseling if they needed someone to talk to. However, Middle Earth lost
its home last spring, and one had not been located by the summer. When El
Hakim learned about Project RISE, he sought to bring the two programs together
because of their common purposes. "Both Project RISE and Middle Earth
provided understanding, education, and companionship," said El Hakim.
"The kids are fun, and each has a different way of learning. I am also
learning every child is different, and every child has wants and needs.
I receive great joy being a part of this combined effort." Somerville
Middle School students formerly enrolled in Middle Earth have joined the
Project RISE classes that meet every Wednesday from 3:15 to 5:30 p.m. The
Saturday Project RISE classes from 9 a.m. to noon are for youngsters fourth
grade and younger. Part of Project RISE is learning about African-American
heritage. Last month Mrs. Field led a student trip to the Somerville Cemetery
on South Bridge Street in Somerville, where students and volunteers found
the gravestones of slaves and African-American veterans of the Civil War.
El Hakim, who accompanied the group, said the slave section was so desecrated
that on could hardly make out the names on the headstones.
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