HarlemLIVE

Wednesday, 11 February 2009 14:07 “Confidence begins with joy," is one of the many quotes that people involved with HEAF live by. HEAF stands for Harlem Education Activities Fund.

One way in which students at HEAF receive help and aid is through college prep training and HEAF also helps children find out how to succeed. They gain new ideas and are given “strong foundations.”

The profound effort that students show at HEAF is not ignored. The many success stories are told throughout the organization, encourage other students and show just how hardworking the students and staff at are. Students that are involved with HEAF gain a sense of self-confidence and pride in everything they do and are given the tools to strive harder for anything they desire.

The adults at the organization are proud of and astonished with the amount of growth they see in their students. “We have had kids since they were in 7th grade and saw them go to college.”

Charlene Trotman, 18, a freshman at Lehman College has grown from her involvement in HEAF. When asked how she felt about receiving her first letter of admission, she says, “I was shocked because I felt I wasn’t on
the same level as other students in the program. HEAF really encouraged me to
strive and try harder.”

Many volunteers and adults working with HEAF state students get “consistent motivation” and are expected to do their best. Everyone involved with the organization shares a bond and is like a “family.” Also students work together to help each other with team building and positive peer pressure.

Various programs like marine biology, robotics, architecture and many others play a huge role in developing future careers and helping the students in gaining multiple skills needed in life. The students fundraise to assist on going on trips and they also speak with other students and children around the country.

Danielle Lee, the president of HEAF, says her job isn’t easy. As president, Lee has a great deal of work to do including working with staff development, in order for HEAF to be as successful as it is. Some of the many jobs she does consist of fundraising, managing the budget, working with HEAF’s outside partners and communicating with the board of directors. She has been working at HEAF since 2002. Lee’s days can be hectic or calm, depending on the time and the day of week it is. “Fridays can be less hectic. Saturdays can be more hectic because we have more students in, working, mainly middle school kids. Monday through Thursday can be pretty relaxed.” She also contributes in other ways. “I help to support family and social development. I give back to the community.” There are times when she did feel like giving up on HEAF: “Sometimes when you want to try new things people don’t always agree with them, they want to keep things the old fashioned way…It was a struggle the first two years, it was really tough.”

Lee finds her job "incredibly rewarding," and she is careful to note, "it’s the kids who do the work." In speaking about the various programs offered by HEAF, she says, “The middle school program helps build an academic resume. They get help with basic stuff like SAT prep, college applications, leadership development. All kinds of different things. The adults and volunteers work with the youth to see what programs they’re interested in.” Their partners play a “tremendous role in letting kids have a value education.”

They try to involve families as much as possible and Lee says, "We try to work together and give more opportunities."

The bleak economy has affected HEAF’s development. “Something we might have to do different is cut trips. Maybe from two to three days instead of a whole week…But we don’t slack off in terms of quality… We might also have to rely on volunteers more heavily,” Lee says.

There is a tough road ahead, and numerous challenges to be faced, but with the bond everyone shares, there is not a challenge too great that they can't overcome.