TerpKIDS

          TerpKIDS is an organization of UMD students mentoring students in DC public schools in order to kindle inspiration, dreams, and success.  The founders of this movement are honors college students participating in the Do Good Challenge (more on that at dogood.umd.edu), a requirement for one of our Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program (EIP) classes.  This is an eight week contest to create social good.
          The after school programs we will be assisting are at elementary schools in the D.C. public school system.  The reason we have chosen this location is because the University of Maryland is indeed very close, and the coordinators of these programs reached out to us when we told them what we were looking to start.  We want to motivate these children while we care for them and help them as they strive to accomplish their dreams.  TerpKIDS is bridging the gap between these public schools and UMD students who can help them.
     The requirements before you start:

          We are looking for anyone who is excited about making a difference in the lives of youth in our area.  The legal requirements are an official background check and fingerprinting from the FBI, as well as a negative tuberculosis (TB) test within the past 12 months.  Our group is currently undergoing these certifications.  We would guide you through the entire process, and have one of us travel from campus into the DC public school office with a group of you.  Obtaining a TB test is easy if you have not had one, and takes only 48 hours until you are declared negative.  If you have had one in the past 12 months, you simply bring the record of that with you when you are certified.  The clearing process should be rather quick and efficient.  We will be getting those forms (with further and more detailed instructions) on our website, terpkidsumd.wordpress.com, as soon as possible.

     The requirements to stay in the terpKIDS program:

          The time commitment for terpKIDS is about 3 & 1/2 hours every 2 weeks.  This is 2 & 1/2 hours of actual volunteer time, as the schools conduct their after school activities from 3:30 - 6 p.m. each weekday.  We would take the metro bus from Stamp Student Union to the metro and then go into the city.  A group of us and you would leave around 3 and be back around 6:30 on a typical volunteering day.  Right now, this small travel cost would be up to you to provide.  However, we hope to eventually receive donations that would pay for your transportation.  After becoming certified, we will work with you to decide on times to volunteer.  We realize this is a large commitment for college students.  If the amount of time is an issue but you still want to do this, please email us and we can see what to do from there.  What the volunteers will be doing exactly will be decided according to what the schools need, but they have mentioned that they need us to help with homework (tutor), mentor, play games, help with snacks, and even coach a Girls on the Run team.  If any of these sound appealing then we would love to have you!

Thanks!  We hope to hear from you soon.

TerpKIDS