Nonprofit launches internship to help high schoolers while they help others
A nonprofit based in Decatur that hosts a summer camp peace program for children each year who have been victims of domestic violence has started an internship program with the goal of getting more teenagers involved at the camp while they learn life skills.
The Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence (WRCEDV) has held a camp each summer to bring children exposed to domestic violence together for a summer of activities that facilitate peace, education, action, compassion and empathy, stated officials.
Known as Camp PEACE, this year the number of campers has grown from 40 to 64 participants from elementary to high school students stated officials who also said that last summer was the first year that high school students were included due to demand from past campers.
Now, some of those older students, including four high school students and a recent high school graduate, will participate in the nonprofit’s new intern program, where each intern will mentor other campers while learning and building their own skills.
“In addition to mentoring other campers, they’re going on college visits and learning about the application process,” said officials. “The interns will also participate in a life skills class called ‘Future Building Day’ where they’re getting assistance with obtaining drivers permits, navigating MARTA, budgeting, job interview skills and more.”
The interns will also assist with some of the camp’s activities including helping the campers write and publish a weekly newsletter, produce podcasts, and guide cooking and exercise classes, according to the camp’s website.
The WRCEDV website states that the camp’s curriculum is based in part on Emory University’s Social, Emotional and Ethical Learning (SEE Learning), which is a described as “using best practices in social-emotional learning programs, while expanding on them by drawing in new developments based on the latest knowledge in educational practice and scientific research.”
“Our services also incorporate the Community Resiliency Model, the goal of which is to help to create trauma-informed and resiliency-focused communities that share a common understanding of the impact of trauma on the nervous system and how resiliency can be restored or increased using these skills-based approaches,” said officials.
The camp runs through July 26 and is held Monday through Friday at Holy Trinity Parish Episcopal Church in Decatur.
For more information, visit camppeaceatl.org.
