INFORMATION ON AMACHI PROGRAM

“I went to a prison and saw a grandfather, a father and a grandson, all in the same prison at the same time, and they told me that they met for the first time in prison.  When I was about to leave, the grandson pulled me aside and told me that he too had a son who he had not seen, but he presumed he would meet him for the first time in prison also.  In 2005, it is possible to have four generations in prison at the same time,” Rev. W. Wilson Goode

How tragic!  In a State of the Union Address, the President reminded the nation of the more than 1.5 million American children with a parent or parents in prison.  He described children of prisoners as “boys and girls trying to grow up without guidance and attention, and children who have to go through a prison gate to be hugged by their mom or dad.”  The President appealed to the nation to reach out and to provide help and assistance to these vulnerable children and their families.

Statistics have proven that without effective intervention, 70% of these children will likely follow their parent’s path into jail or prison.

Studies have also demonstrated that if a caring adult will devote just one hour once a week for a year, a significant difference will be made in the child’s life.

How can we turn our backs on these children who so desperately need our help?  Knowing that we can make a difference makes it almost sinful not to do something to help.  So we at RSVP are searching for the best way to launch a program to help the children of our community.

A focus group will be held soon to determine the best approach to address this concern and we have the support of significant community leaders to support this endeavor. 

Big Brothers Big Sisters have committed to work with RSVP in this project and will provide training and support to volunteers.   Proven benefits to the child will include

• Reductions in drug and alcohol use
• Improved school performance and attendance
• Reduced incidence of violence
• Improved self-confidence
• Greater hope in the future

Benefits to the mentor will include:

• Improved health
• Increased productivity
• Personal gratification
• Building a positive relationship with a child
• Belief that you can make a difference
• A way to put faith into service

This program is based on the Amachi Model, which was founded in Philadelphia and promoted by Rev. W. Wilson Good, who has been a guiding light in the development of the Amachi program.

Amachi is Nigerian Ibo, which means, “Who knows but what God has brought us through this child.”

If you would like more information or know that you would like to make a commitment to help a child, please call the RSVP office.

The Power of An Hour

The mothers cried as they talked about their children – children many of them have not seen for years.  They have lost contact with their children because of actions they have taken.  “My children do not even know me,” one mother lamented.  “I’ve been in and out of their lives so much.” They are incarcerated, behind bars, because they broke the law – their choice.  Their children, however, had no choice and are in effect, incarcerated because their lives changed drastically when their family fell apart.

The scene?  The Orange County Corrections.  The amenities?  None.  Privileges?  Lost.  Family time?  None.  I had to fight back the tears; I felt so sad as I met with the mothers who were spending their days at Corrections when they should have been enjoying things like making cookies with their children, attending their sports games, helping them with their homework.

Other than being incarcerated, the mothers all had one thing in common – Although they made some bad decisions that wrecked their lives, they love their children very much and they want better for them.  They welcomed the new program being introduced to them – The Amachi program.

Hedy Bass, volunteer coordinator, and I, director of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program were at Corrections to tell the inmates about a new program designed to help their children.  In fact, RSVP recently received a $48,000 grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service to administer the program which matches children of incarcerated parents with a senior volunteer who commits to spending at least one hour once a week for one year with a child.

It was Hedy and mine second visit to the prison and it made us all the more determined to help the children we were learning about.  And we found ourselves wanting to help the mothers who just couldn’t seem to help themselves.

One young mother sadly admitted that her daughter is 10 years old and hasn’t seen her father since she was 3 years old.  “She has low self esteem, a little overweight.  Mother’s in and out of jail on drugs.  No other kids around at home.”  Another mother revealed that her 11 year old son “has a lot of hurt anger inside of him which I caused because I’ve been in and out of his life because of my incarceration (prison and jail).  Please be patient with my son.”

Amachi is Nigerian Ibo which means, “Who Knows But What God Has Brought Us Through This Child.”  A nationwide program which began in Philadelphia and is sprouting up throughout the country, the Amachi program has documented success in improving the quality of lives of the young mentees.  It’s really the power of an hour.  The time the senior mentor spends with a child is potent.  Their grades improve, relationships with others improve, they are less hostile and they are given hope for the future.

RSVP volunteers will be screened, interviewed, background checked and trained by staff of a 100-year-old agency, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and then matched with a child of similar interests.  Ethnicity and gender are also taken into consideration.  The Big Brothers Big Sisters relationship will be a significant one providing support to the mentor and evaluating progress.

As Hedy and I left the correctional facility and the women returned to the dreariness of their confinement, we left with an uplifted spirit knowing that these women, while not always making the right decision in their own lives, just made a good decision to seek help for their children.  They want and desperately seek opportunities for a better life for their children.

We’re hopeful enough seniors (55 and better) will commit to spending time with one of the many children in our community who need our help – only one hour once a week for one year will help give the child a sense of self-worth and hope for a better future. 

Won’t you offer your help?  Don’t have enough time in your busy schedule?  I felt that way also, until I learned about the dismal future of the children if we don’t help them.   We know that 60 – 70% of them will follow their parent’s footsteps into prison unless positive intervention occurs.  So although I work full-time, have involvements in my community, and am raising my 11 ½ year old granddaughter whose mother died of breast cancer, I will be mentoring a child.  I’ve had my background check, my home visitation, been trained, and am awaiting the day I will meet the child whose life I hope to help shape.

Amachi – A Nigerian Ibo means, “Who Knows but What God Has Brought Us through This Child.”  Please give it some thought.  If you’d like to know more about the Amachi program, or the RSVP program, please call Joan S. Hansen at 407 422-1535 or email me at rsvp11@earthlink.net.  One mother wrote on the top of her application, “PLEASE HURRY!”