Student Contributor -M. Collins
For this project, I partnered with Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. I worked with students and explained to them how there are kids their age within the hospital that are still having to learn while being isolated and not around their friends. Because of this, we wanted these children to feel seen, heard, and know that we were thinking of them, so we provided bracelets that shared uplifting words of encouragement to provide to these children in the hospital with love and happiness!
For this project, students were given the supplies to make friendship bracelets. This included string and various types of beads they would put on the string. Before obtaining supplies, the students brainstormed words that were uplifting and supportive. Some of these were “Courageous” or “Thinking of you”, just to name a few. Because of COVID, students couldn’t deliver these bracelets themselves, which could have made the project so much more meaningful because they would be able to see who they are reaching out to. Luckily, I was able to share a personal story that helped them make the connection to what their friendships bracelets can do for the children that are receiving them. This wasn’t a large impact on the community, but it could potentially mean the world to children who don’t have a “normal” life right now. After making the bracelets, I had the teacher reach out to me and share with me that the following days after making the bracelets, her students wanted to make friendship bracelets for others around the school!
I feel that my project went well. Not only did it have an impact on the students who made the bracelets, but it could have potentially uplifted the children and families within the hospital that are supporting these children. I had to modify the idea of having the students deliver the bracelets themselves because of the restrictions placed at the hospital. For anyone wanting to do this project, be sure to have all supplies ready! Also, provide examples of words that students can put on their bracelets, if they are wanting to make a bracelet with words.
