Media Smart Youth Program Teaches Healthy Habits

Media-Smart Youth is a Hands4Hope pilot cross-age mentoring program offered at Jackson Elementary by three H4H Teen Leaders. These dynamic leaders applied for and received a small grant from the National Institute of Health to implement the program, which covered the topic of nutrition and the media. The leaders wanted to introduce this program to a group of 5th grade students, in order to help students gain personal management skills in the areas of nutrition and physical activity prior to their transition to middle school. This interactive program empowers young people to, become aware of—and think critically about—media's role in influencing their nutrition and physical activity choices, while building skills that help them make informed decisions about being physically active and eating nutritious food in daily life. Kelly, Sarah, and Andrew are youth leaders who changed the way kids think. All three of them were drawn to the idea of educating children about media literacy and nutrition.

Kelly says, “If we can show the kids now, not only good eating habits, but how to decipher the influences that surround them, we can teach them something entirely different than what society is preaching.” Kelly is sure that the lessons she teaches the kids today, will help them later on to be a healthy, informed young adult. Being in this program has even taught her some valuable skills. “I have learned many skills that I would have never learned in a school classroom. Media-Smart Youth taught me time management, budgeting, as well as leadership.”

“What I love most about MSY is being able to dedicate a majority of my time to a cause I really care about that can benefit the kids for their whole lives”, Sarah says. These teen leaders are learning just as much as they are teaching. “I have learned how to better budget money, involve kids in engaging ways, and dedicate my time to something that is important. Working so hard on something has helped show me the importance and value of planning, time management, and dedication. “

Working in Media-Smart Youth, Andrew has learned that kids are not as educated about tempting media strategies. “Before, I thought this would be very stressful, but once we hit the ground running, it was a tremendous relief to realize this was fun and educational instead of just educational.”

Give Where You Live

Dear Volunteers & Supporters,

El Dorado County’s celebration of the National Day of Giving is just three weeks away!  Please join Hands4Hope in this wonderful opportunity to "Give Where You Live" between midnight and 11:59pm on Thursday, April 23rd.

Our goal for the day is big, but together, we can do it!  We intend to raise $7,500 to assist in funding our programs and our vision of cultivating the next generation of socially responsible citizens. We know there are thousands of generous people in this region and hope you and others are inspired by Hands4Hope and choose to donate to our program on this important day.

We believe that Hands4Hope is unique in that it provides youth, from grade-schoolers to teens, with tangible, real-world opportunities to make a positive difference in their community. Hands4Hope empowers our local kids by taking them to into neighborhoods, senior centers, homeless shelters, and even out onto the streets to help those in need. Through these opportunities, our youth see the problems, see how they can help, and then take the action to make that change happen.

While there are many donation levels and ways to give, our focus for this Day of Giving is to fund 75 Youth In Action at $100 each.

This investment allows one youth to explore, plan, implement, and participate in six outreach projects, reaching up to 1,000 people in our community! In total, our $7,500 goal will ultimately serve 15,000 seniors, kids, and other groups we support. Together, we can do it!

Please join us and do three simple things on April 23rd:

1. Visit http://giving.edcoe.org and follow the link to the list of participating agencies; click on Hands4Hope under the Children & Youth heading.
   
2. Make a donation starting at just $25, or fill in the amount of your choice. NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL or BIG!
   
3. Spread the word! Your network is powerful. Tell your friends, post on Facebook, and tweet about it. Click the social media "share" button on your donation page. Be part of something really big and help us reach our goal.  

Thank you for helping make this day a success! We are so grateful for your generous spirit!!

Jennifer