As the strong smell of permanent markers fill the air, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund Club president senior Shirly Zhang and her club members huddle around in a circle to create a large poster for Children’s Rights day.
Members in UNICEF club work to help children living in harsh environments in third world countries. One way they helped children was by writing notes electronically and sending them inspirational messages through the UNICEF organization.
They hope to host a Water Walk in March to raise awareness about the challenges that kids must cope with in order to obtain water for their whole family. During the Water Walk, participants of all ages must imagine that they are a child in a village in Nicaragua getting water for their family. Throughout the walk, there are four stations where participants have to do a variety of activities such as doing 20 mountain climbers or holding up a water bottle full of dirty water.
“Our goal right now is to become one of those clubs that can reach out to more communities,” Zhang said. “Being a part of a more fortunate community, we’re able to help those in less fortunate communities by raising awareness about the challenges they face on a daily basis.”
Key Club is a service club that is part of Kiwanis Family, an international organization with branches such as K-Kids and Builder’s Club, tailored to elementary and middle school students respectively. Members help out with community events such as Concerts in the Park and Fall Festival.
“Our club tries to serve the community by either helping the city or creating fun events for members to participate in,” Key Club president senior Tyler Lee said. “I want the members to be happy and when I see them having fun and laughing at the events, it makes me feel good.”
Los Angeles Children’s Health Club president junior Harmony Cen formed the club in 2018 for students to earn community service hours by making crafts for hospital patients. During meetings on Tuesdays, members gather to create crafts such as crocheted beanies and handwritten cards for young hospital patients.
“Anybody is able to come in and sit down for 30 minutes and do something that will hopefully bring a smile to a child who’s elsewhere needing extra healthcare attention,” Cen said. “Our club is simple, but at the same time, it leaves this really heartwarming message somewhere else in the community. We’re not all artistic but in the end, we end up making something that’s really wonderful.”