The Camel Project has announced that it is partnering with the Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading to address violence in the Berks County area through the new Human & Kind youth initiative.
Seeing a need to understand better what youth in the community are experiencing, The Camel Project approached the YVC to organize a group of young people from throughout Berks to meet monthly and share their ideas on what adults need to do and what they need adults to stop doing, to address the issue of violence and aggressive behavior the local area. This youth group selected the new program name, Human & Kind.
For its first project, the Human & Kind group assembled Motivation Machines this week at the Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading office in the Goggle Works.
Like gumball machines, these mobile devices will dispense positive affirmations available to anyone who needs support, youth and adults alike.
Along with the Motivation Machines interactive display, a message board will allow youth and adults to leave a positive note for someone that needs to hear something positive.
Locations of the Motivation Machines will be rotated through area schools and service agencies. The project is youth-driven; the Human & Kind members will create the affirmations and logos and monitor the displays at their school.
“Our two organizations are stronger together and both need to understand what area youth need from adults for emotional wellness. We wanted to do something to enhance what is already happening in our schools and youth organizations focusing on emotional support,” says Pam Gockley, Executive Director of The Camel Project.
“We need to help youth and adults balance their emotions and mental wellness with positive thoughts, experiential activities, and social support,” she added.
The Camel Project’s mission is to assist communities, including schools, organizations, and individuals, in changing the culture of violent and unacceptable behaviors that result in trauma and abuse.
