NOVA RIF YOUNG AMBASSADOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
RIF of NOVA's pilot Young Ambassador Volunteer Program during the 2021-2022 academic year has been a big success. The idea is to encourage young people in our community to provide other youngsters with books to encourage the love of reading. Our first "class" of Young Ambassadors is featured below -- and just look at what these two inspirational leaders have done to help RIF of NOVA with our work!
The application process is now open for the 2022-2023 academic year. See below for additional details about the program and to apply.
The application process is now open for the 2022-2023 academic year. See below for additional details about the program and to apply.
Young Ambassador Addison Clift shows the commendation bookmark she received for collecting over 1,600 gently used books for NOVA RIF during the pandemic. This West Potomac High School junior got the word out by posting her appeal on social media, writing an article for her high school weekly newspaper, and reaching out to her younger sister and young cousins to get the word to elementary school families in her community. In 2019, she and several friends set up a GoFundMe appeal for NOVA RIF, and she donned the Clifford costume for our 2019 Book It for Books 5-K Race, to the delight of the children who attended the event.
Addie's plan for her Young Ambassador year: "I realize I have been privileged to grow up with access to books and a good education. Recognizing that not everyone has that same privilege, I want to work to change that inequity. As a NOVA RIF Ambassador, I would like to make videos of me reading children’s books and then demonstrating a simple craft related to the story. I would also like to continue collecting used children’s books for RIF." Addison has made a video in English and Spanish encouraging parents to read to their children. She also translated the NOVA RIF photo release form into Spanish. |
When McKenzie Watt learned that many children in our community do not have books in their homes, she was surprised -- and concerned. Not one to sit still, this lover of books and reading decided to turn her concern into action. The sixth grader set up an organization, Kenzie’s Kids, to collect new and gently used children’s books to distribute to children in the NOVA community. So far, she has collected over 4,300 books, with over 1,200 donated to NOVA RIF! Young Ambassador McKenzie Watt received a commendation RIF of NOVA bookmark for her wonderful efforts.
McKenzie's plan for her Young Ambassador year: "I have been donating books to NOVA RIF for the past year, and have already donated over a thousand books during COVID. I enjoy helping other children fall in love with books -- which is why I like sorting and cleaning them so that other children can find just the book they need! I love reading and want to be an author when I grow up, which is why I enjoy helping RIF of Northern Virginia. I'd like to help by providing kids book reviews and also collecting books. I would also like to help at events. I LOVE reading and RIF of NOVA!" True to her goal, McKenzie has written two book reviews for us. One focused on a favorite book: Charlie Hernández & The League of Shadows. Another review featured the book A Long Walk to Water about a "Lost Boy" from Sudan and his efforts to bring water to his home country. Find both reviews here. |
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Young Ambassador Volunteer Program Details What is it? It's a chance for you to help us do what we do, based on your interests and time available. Each year, NOVA RIF plans to solicit applications for up to three young people who will then serve during the following academic year in the program. What might you do? Help us with... Book collections: Interested in helping collect gently used books and/or distributing them, along with new books, at book donation events? If so, come join us. Wait until you see the joy on a child's face when receiving a book to own! Fundraising: Fundraising is our most pressing need; all of our funding needs to be raised locally. Might you organize and launch a fundraiser? Event help and participation: RIF of NOVA hosts a biannual Book It for Books 5K Race/Walk. The next one is in the early planning stages for October 2023. How might you help before the event? Form a team to walk or run. Make signs and posters. Distribute fliers to local businesses. Spread the word on social media. On race day? Sign in runners. Direct runners/walkers where to go on the running/walking path. Put up signs and balloons. Staff the food or book table, serve water, take photos, and even be Clifford!!! That is a big job, for sure because everyone LOVES Clifford! Social media expertise: Do you have social media skills? If so, we would use your help to spread the word about RIF of NOVA's many activities! Research and develop a Resource page: Our website features several Resource pages listed by theme. Each page contains relevant links to children's books about that theme. We would love to feature additional pages on many more themes. Check the drop down links under Resources to learn more. Review these and other website pages and suggest updates. Create a photo slideshow or movie: Such material would be geared to generate interest and donations via our website and social media. Author a blog or children's book review: If accepted, your blog, review, or even a regular "column" about children's books could be published on our website and in our newsletter, the RIF RAP. Other ideas/proposals: All ideas are welcome! |
Helping with our Book it For Books 5K is a great volunteer activity!
What's in this for you?
It's a chance to develop skills to note on a high school or college application or resume, not to mention an opportunity to provide a service to our community and make a difference in the lives of NOVA children. In addition, your participation may qualify for school service hours. Please check with your counselor/advisor. If you would like to volunteer to help NOVA RIF outside of the Young Ambassador program, please contact us at: rifnova@gmail.com. |
