For the second year, the West Feliciana 4-H Fashion Board has been involved in a service-learning project over the course of the school year. Seventeen youth were part of the fashion board and had assistance from four adults. As of April 25, 2008, they had contributed in excess of 32 hours and served at least 84 children. More children will eventually benefit from the monetary contribution made to OLOL Children’s Hospital.
Following up on the 2006-2007 project, the goal of the fashion board was to develop and improve their own skills in clothing construction, leadership and organization. They would also learn to plan and conduct educational programs for younger 4-H members related to the fashion project. They planned to do a direct community service project for the children’s hospital at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in addition to a monetary donation raised through the annual fashion show.
The fashion board, which included nine new members, met monthly starting in October. They initially made individual projects, t-shirt purses, to work on sewing skills, with the more experienced members and adult volunteers helping the newer members. In December they made and stuffed approximately 80 stockings and delivered them to patients in the children’s hospital. In reflection discussions after the hospital visit, all those who had participated said they had been very moved by seeing and talking to the kids in the hospital, and they also felt the fundraiser for the hospital would have a lot more meaning for them.
After the first of the year the board began planning a fashion session for the junior leader club’s Project Fun Day. They planned an activity from a previous fashion camp and taught it to 25 4th to 6th graders who attended the project day in March.
The board also began planning their annual fashion show. They were responsible for the theme, categories of clothing, music, decorations, the script, narration and more. Several board members contacted local businesses regarding sponsorships, resulting in several monetary sponsorships and the addition of clothing items from one boutique to the fashion show. Other members developed a presentation and delivered it at elementary 4-H club meetings to recruit fashion show participants.
The fashion show included 14 models wearing 20 outfits. They even included a 4-H Centennial segment with two 4-H'ers wearing shorts they made at a 4-H sewing workshop with the parish centennial t-shirts. After expenses, the fashion board was able to make a $300 donation to OLOL Children’s Hospital.
There has not been an opportunity since the fashion show for follow-up or reflection. However, agents and volunteers have observed significant development of leadership skills, teamwork and organizational skills among the board members.
[Image: 4-H, Service Learning, West Feliciana]
[Image: 4-H, Service Learning, West Feliciana]
[Image: 4-H, Service Learning, West Feliciana]
[Image: 4-H, Service Learning, West Feliciana]
[Image: 4-H, Service Learning, West Feliciana] |
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