All youth have a special talent, skill, ability, or interest--called a "spark"-- and when ignited, that "spark" has the potential to fill them with joy and inspire them to contribute positively to the world (www.search-institute.org/sparks). Through the SparkOpportunity Challenge, I would like to give four teenagers, who have discovered their sparks, employment opportunities to teach hands-on, creative workshops to younger children at The Thrive House for Youth, an organization that champions the pursuit of sparks.
These teenagers have a passion for life, learning, and community service. They already share their gifts with others on a voluntary basis. However, they are youth from low-socioeconomic families and would significantly benefit from earned income to help them pay for expenses that their families canot afford. The Thrive House for Youth would plant a seed of inspiration by showing these teens that they can use their talents-dance, arts & crafts, communications, and creative writing-to make a difference in other people's lives while also getting paid for their services. Indeed, their gifts have value! I believe that this experience will further ignite their entrepreneurial spirit and desire to seek out more opportunities to earn income through meaningful ways.
If given an iPad, the teens would have the ability to research and plan their workshops and create a blog to document their experiences and advertise their services to other groups or individuals. The possibilities are actually limitless!
I am a 32 year-old, bursting with ideas and inspiration, every day of my life. Formerly, an elementary school teacher and currently, the director of The Thrive House for Youth, I am passionate about education and working with youth. I am a Spark Champion. I believe in the resilency of the human spirit and the reality of lifelong, intrinsic happiness. These two things are possible when people realize their spark, or passion in life, and are part of a supportive community. One of my sparks or something that I consider a "calling" is working with children and youth. They keep me energized, challenged, hopeful, and inspired. My project proposal is an opportunity to encourage youth, whom I've mentored for several years to keep passing the support for other young people forward! A dream come true would be for one of them to take over my job as the director of The Thrive House for Youth, one day.
