Fostering Friendships at YC
Youth Challenge is more than a chance for participants with physical disabilities to try new activities or for teens to volunteer—it’s a chance for all young people to connect and build friendships with one another. Whether through shooting hoops, kayaking, or painting a picture together, participants and volunteers have a chance to bond and make friends they otherwise would not have gotten the chance to meet.
YC participant Gabe Davis enjoys a variety of activities at YC— wheelchair basketball, rock climbing, and swimming, to name a few. His favorite thing of all is the people he gets to interact with at programs.
“I love getting to meet a new person every time I’m at YC, “Gabe said. “But also seeing the volunteers who were with me before. I just love the whole community.”
Gabe likes spending time with volunteers and appreciates that YC gives him a unique opportunity to connect with other kids with disabilities like himself. One of his close friends he enjoys playing basketball with is Immanuel.
“He’s funny, he likes to make a lot of jokes and cheer people up when they’re down,” Gabe said. “He’s just a fun kid to be around.”
Sumaiya Hedge, who has volunteered at YC for around two years, really enjoys building relationships with those she is paired with and finding a place to sit and chat at programs about things she has in common with them.
“I like dance and some of the kids also like dance or other music-related subjects,” Sumaiya said. “Sometimes we just talk in general, like about what their favorite things to do in the summertime are or what their favorite things are.”
At YC, the impact doesn’t end with programming. Everyone walks out the door (and back in) as friends. The connections built and memories created at Youth Challenged provide a much-needed community for young people of all abilities and friendships that will last for years to come.
Gabe hangs out with his volunteer Michael.
Sumaiya and Samari are all smiles at the YC Halloween Party last year.
