By Melissa Antaya | Volunteer and Development Committee Member
Twenty-one strangers convene in an unfamiliar place. No cell phones, no TVs, no laptops. They are dropped in the woods late at night with only a map and a mission.
Although it sounds like the promo for a new reality television show, it was the reality for 21 incoming freshmen at Duke University. The nighttime challenge was only the start to an exhausting and exhilarating pre-orientation program in which a team of seven students would spend their week volunteering for Genesis Home.
Project Change, co-sponsored by the Duke Women’s Center and the Kenan Institute for Ethics, is an immersive leadership experience in which new students live, learn, and work in Durham.
Through the program, students compete with a team of peers and select a nonprofit to work with for one week to find ways to solve critical problems.
“Genesis Home stood out because they change people’s lives rather than just giving them something,” said freshman Henry. “They help people change their perception of opportunity.”
On August 13, seven students commenced their work with Genesis Home. Their task: to educate downtown Durham businesses about Genesis Home and entice them to support the organization. Although many of the students had community service experience, corporate outreach was a new challenge.
“We learned that doing the educational part before the fundraising helped them be more receptive,” said freshman David . “The Play House toy store on 9th Street even helped get us an application to get diapers from the Diaper Bank of North Carolina.”
Freshman Jessica agreed. “I personally did not experience a single time a manager or owner refused to at least take one of our fliers. I think that shows how much people in Durham care about improving the community.”
By the end, the group connected with 38 downtown businesses and local organizations. In fact, one business owner turned out to be a former Genesis Home resident who shared her great appreciation for the students’ valuable work.
Project Change earned support from 21 percent of business owners and organizations – through Barrels of Joy, Houses of Hope or in-kind donations. Additionally, Genesis Home also has secured five more donations from local businesses thanks to leads from the students.
All 21 Project Change participants had the opportunity to share a meal with the families and spend the night at Genesis Home in a communal living space without any personal items or toiletries. They experienced, for a moment, what it might be like for new residents.
“Living in a communal living space, you can’t get away,” said David. “Families, even in times of stress, have to pull together.”
And that’s also what the students now see the community must do to end homelessness in Durham.
“A community cannot function well unless all its members are properly cared for,” said Jessica. “The misfortune of some affects us all. Genesis Home helps families get back on their feet.”
One way you can help our families get back on their feet is by supporting the children in our programs. The opportunity to go to summer camp each year gives our youth a fun and productive way to spend their days while allowing their parents/guardians the time they need to work toward independence and housing stability. Please consider making a donation today.
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