IFSI Summer Camp – A Success Once Again!

   Tis’ the Season of Giving – Help Us Celebrate

        IFSI's Annual Children's Holiday Party!

   “Summer Expression 2000” – A Joyful Closing 

        Program for Students in YFDP

   True Life Teenage Success Story!

   From Camper To Counselor

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Message from the 

Executive Director 

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“All About Youth!!!”

“Our children are our future.” We've heard this phrase so many times, it almost sounds cliche, however, it can't be emphasized enough. This is especially true when you're operating a social service agency in the midst of a major American metropolitan area, complete with all the challenges urban centers encounter on a daily basis. Many of these challenges are the direct effects of poverty and disenfranchisement that we face as we sojourn into the 21st century.

In spite of it all , we here at Intercultural Family Services, Inc., are optimistic. With youth as our focus, and “diversity in action” as our motto, many of our programs geared toward support services to youth are among the most unique and demanded throughout the City of Philadelphia and the State of Pennsylvania. We are fortunate to serve as a model for other programs. 

As you will see in the pages of this issue of “Hands-On,” we truly promote positive values and constructive activities for youth and families year round- winter, spring, summer and fall. Our biggest event for this season is our “Children's Holiday Celebration.” IFSI believes in giving back to the community and the holiday party is always well received. Read about how you can get involved to make a difference to some of the children we serve. 

Please peruse this issue of “Hands On.” If your curiosity is piqued, come to IFSI to meet our staff and see for yourself the programs we offer and what hard work and perseverance can accomplish.

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By Pheralyn Dove 

IFSI's Performing Arts Summer Day Camp was recently rated one of the ten top camps in Philadelphia by the Philadelphia Foundation. This came as great news to an agency that has a focus on the well being of youth and works year in and year out to provide “culturally competent services” to diverse communities.

For the past 16 years, Intercultural Family Services, Inc. has been providing this summer camp program that includes an overnight camping trip. The theme for the Intercultural Performing Arts Summer Camp 2000 was “Our World Habitats - Part II.” The curriculum revolved around the exploration of four different world habitat regions: Africa, Asia, North America and South America/Caribbean. Approximately 50 children, ages five through 12, participated in the seven-week program. A variety of enrichment activities were undertaken by the campers such as tutoring, arts and crafts, visual and culinary arts, presentations, music, dance, drama, games, field trips, swimming, conflict resolution, and violence prevention.

The population of the campers is comprised primarily of children from the surrounding West Philadelphia neighborhood, with many coming from low-income families. 

Heading up this effort are Cheryl D. Hill and Charlena Martin. They both have been an important part of the IFSI Summer Camp Program for many years. 
“Since 1984, the Intercultural Performing Arts Summer Day Camp has been an integral part of IFSI's overall enrichment initiative that serves children and youth from low-income neighborhoods. We invest an incredible amount of time, money, professional expertise and creativity in the planning and facilitation of this program,” said Ms. Hill.

A highlight of IFSI's summer program is the annual overnight camping trip. From August 2nd through August 6th, 2000, campers and staff stayed at the Beechwood Campground in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. This rare opportunity for inner-city youth to experience the natural surroundings in scenic Chester County was a well-received component of the program. Below are some testimonials of gratitude from campers and parents about their summer camp experience. 

Carolyn Ayers and Herman M. Scott, Sr.: We just want to say “Thank You” for all that you and your staff have done for Troy Scott and Raymond Ayers this summer at the Performing Arts Summer Camp. They both had a great time, especially at the overnight camp. Thanks again for all your efforts. We pray that all goes well so that they can attend next year. 

Tina Hu, age 8 1/2: What I liked most about the camp was the field trips, because the field trips were fun and interesting. I really liked the Academy of Natural Sciences. I learned so much stuff over there and I saw some interesting things. I loved the butterflies. There were all kinds of things I liked at camp. I also learned the sign language with the hands and it was fun over there and I got to meet some children that I liked. I liked the lunch. It was good. I'll always remember the great time I had over there and the great friends that I made. I'd like to go back next year.

Effie Kong, age 9½: I think the camp was pretty good because we got to learn things and to exercise, like in dancing class. We got to meet new friends. We went swimming every week. And I liked the overnight camping trip. We had fun. We slept in a tent. It was pretty good, but I saw a bug in there. My favorite thing, what I liked best at the camp were the animals. We learned all about animals. I want to go back next summer.

Leo Wang, age 10 ½: It was nice and I liked the field trips and the camping, when we camped out. We swam and we had fun and went on a hayride. I went to the bonfire. At camp I also liked the dancing and the arts and crafts when I made the small puppets. I also liked the poly-whirl that I made. It's a round swirly thing. The best part of the camp was the field trips. My favorite trip was to the 
park with the playground and my other favorite one was the Philadelphia Zoo. 
This was my first year at the camp and 
I want to go back.

Obviously, the cost of running such a comprehensive summer program is considerable.

“In order to serve 40 to 50 children, including overnight camp, the summer camp costs at least $36,000 to operate” said Evelyn Marcha-Hidalgo, IFSI Executive Director/CEO “Therefore we are especially grateful to the Philadelphia Foundation*, Philadelphia Activities Fund and other donors for providing some support to this program. With additional funding, we are hoping to serve more neighborhood children for Summer Camp 2001”. 

*Funded by the William Penn Foundation 
through a grant to the Philadelphia Foundation.

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By Pheralyn Dove

We here at Intercultural Family Services, Inc. pride ourselves in one of our annual traditions, the Children's Holiday Party, during which we host a multicultural celebration for the children and families we serve. On Thursday, December 14, 2000, IFSI will once again play Santa. There will be lots of food, entertainment, and good old-fashioned family fun. Not only do we plan and execute a gala affair every year, attended by more than 150 children, we also attempt to provide gifts for approximately 750 families.

Each year the party-goers sing holiday songs, and delight in live entertainment by young people, including instrumental music presentations, dance selections and guest appearances from drill teams and other community-based youth groups. Gifts are distributed and children get to pose for Polaroid keepsake photos with Santa Claus and our very own IFSEE bird, the agency's mascot.
Year after year, the children that come to this celebration leave with bright smiles on their faces. It is a heartwarming experience they carry with them long after the last gifts are opened and used. 

Kyray and Kyeem Merriweather still have fond memories of last year's party. 
They attended with their grandmother and their two younger sisters. Kyray, 
age 11, recalled: “It was great fun. The fact I liked most about it was the way my grandmother took the time to accompany us to the party. I liked the girls 
dancing on the drill team. I liked the look on the little kids' faces when they 
saw Santa Claus.”

Kyray's brother, Kyeem, age 10, also had a great time at the party. Kyeem said, 
“I liked how my sister Italia looked with the painting on her face. I liked the drill team dancing. I like to take the pictures with the bird. Best of all we got ice cream and at the end of the party, we got gifts.”

This is just one of the ways IFSI gives back to the community. You too can help us and our clients by donating money, food, or unwrapped toys for our holiday party this year. If you are interested, please contact Erin Keller or Shila Stevens at (215) 386-1298. We'd love to have you join in the celebration.

“Summer Expression 2000”
A Joyful Closing Program 
for Students in YFDP

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True Life Teenage 
Success Story!

Student From Summer Career 
Exploration Program Offers 
Powerful Advice to Her Peers

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From Camper To Counselor
Shavone Houston Makes 
Successful Transition 

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You could say that Shavone Houston grew up at IFSI. She started coming here as a camper at the age of seven, and this past summer, at the age of 16, Shavone was employed as a camp counselor at IFSI's Performing Arts Summer Day Camp 2000. She helped lead the children in their daily activities and also accompanied them on their overnight camping trip to the Beechwood Campground in Coatesville, Pennsylvania.

During a recent interview, Shavone recalled that as a youngster, “Going on those camping trips every year was my favorite part.” So how was the overnight camping trip this year, from the perspective of a counselor?

“This summer it was different from when I was there,” she said. “As a camper, they made everything seem so easy. But even though it was a lot of hard work, it was still fun. We roasted marshmallows around the campfire, we took a hayride around the whole campus, and that was something I think everybody really enjoyed.”
Cheryl D. Hill, IFSI Camp Operations Coordinator, said, “The youth workers were directed by an experienced supervisor on a daily basis. All youth workers attended a four-hour orientation and training session. The sessions were designed to orient the youth workers about our agency, their roles and responsibilities as counselors, the camp theme and the theme's development through creative and educational projects.”

Shavone worked with children in the five-to-seven age group. On a typical day at camp, Shavone would come in and take her charges upstairs for breakfast. She would help get them fed and clean up afterwards. After breakfast, the campers gathered around for “circle time” where they would sing songs and get their instructions for the day. Morning classes were followed by lunch and then the campers would engage in their various afternoon activities that included storytelling, silent sustained reading and visual and performing arts instruction. There was also play time daily and Shavone engaged the children in games like jacks and jump rope.

While Shavone felt that she was a role model and mentor for the children, she said that the camp administrators were role models and mentors for her.
Currently a senior at West Philadelphia High School, Shavone plans to matriculate at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore after graduation. Her favorite subject is English, and Shavone is also a talented musician. She plays clarinet, piano and drums and is a member of the jazz band and orchestra at school. Shavone said she enjoys working in her church, Christian Faith Baptist Church, where she leads a praise dance group. Shavone describes herself as an “intelligent, outgoing, sociable, spiritual, and yes, beautiful” young woman. In addition to her mother, positive influences in her life include her aunt, Laverne Clark.