For my research of Our Next Generation, I decided to do two things. First I conducted interviews with volunteers and coordinators. Second, I took a visit just to sit and observe and see how things run and to get a feel for what was going on. What I found out was very beneficial and gave me good insight as to what this place is all about. It is through these two research methods that I feel I have gotten a good grasp on the goals and determination Our Next Generation and its volunteers.
In my interviews, there was a very common feel; that they wanted to help the children. One volunteer told me she started out doing this because she was doing it as a school project, as I was. She told me that after her project was finished, she had created some strong ties with the children and wanted to continue coming in and helping them with homework and everyday activities at the center. An older gentleman I interviewed had a similar attitude. He told me he was retired and decided to spend his time helping people in this community rather than, say, working on his golf swing. He told me how he has seen first hand the change in the neighborhood. He told me when he first started volunteering, he didn’t know what to expect; that he didn’t know if these kids were juvenile delinquents or just kids with bad parents. He said what he found was completely different. He said over time, he has grown to have a special bond towards these kids and feels like he would keep volunteering for a long time. Through my interviews, I found that not only do college students completing a project come to volunteer, but people from all different backgrounds come together for a good cause. This is one reason why I think the Our Next Generation a great organization; because their mission is to change the lives of as many children as they can.
Now in my second area of research, I observed how things were run. What I found made complete sense. For the younger children, they worked on many things public schools may cover briefly, like counting and English. They also work on team building and group skills. The older kids worked on things like filling out college applications, job application, FAFSA, and many other things that their parents may not be able to help them on. As far as the attitude goes, it seemed very clean cut. I saw a sign saying “No hats, du-rags, hoods, sagging pants, or electronics”. I felt as though they were creating a very neutral environment, so no one felt left out or discriminated against. I also saw many kids who had friends within their groups. I also saw that there was no fighting or arguing. I realized it’s because many of the people volunteering or coordinating acted like parents and made sure they were friendly. I saw that the volunteers and coordinators acted like parental figures and kept the children in line.
Through both methods of my research, I found many wonderful things. Among those is the willingness to help and determination among the volunteers and coordinators. Our Next Generation has created a fun, neutral environment for less than privileged children to learn and build crucial life skills. I am sure that Our Next Generation will continue to help children until the day they close their doors.
In my interviews, there was a very common feel; that they wanted to help the children. One volunteer told me she started out doing this because she was doing it as a school project, as I was. She told me that after her project was finished, she had created some strong ties with the children and wanted to continue coming in and helping them with homework and everyday activities at the center. An older gentleman I interviewed had a similar attitude. He told me he was retired and decided to spend his time helping people in this community rather than, say, working on his golf swing. He told me how he has seen first hand the change in the neighborhood. He told me when he first started volunteering, he didn’t know what to expect; that he didn’t know if these kids were juvenile delinquents or just kids with bad parents. He said what he found was completely different. He said over time, he has grown to have a special bond towards these kids and feels like he would keep volunteering for a long time. Through my interviews, I found that not only do college students completing a project come to volunteer, but people from all different backgrounds come together for a good cause. This is one reason why I think the Our Next Generation a great organization; because their mission is to change the lives of as many children as they can. 
Now in my second area of research, I observed how things were run. What I found made complete sense. For the younger children, they worked on many things public schools may cover briefly, like counting and English. They also work on team building and group skills. The older kids worked on things like filling out college applications, job application, FAFSA, and many other things that their parents may not be able to help them on. As far as the attitude goes, it seemed very clean cut. I saw a sign saying “No hats, du-rags, hoods, sagging pants, or electronics”. I felt as though they were creating a very neutral environment, so no one felt left out or discriminated against. I also saw many kids who had friends within their groups. I also saw that there was no fighting or arguing. I realized it’s because many of the people volunteering or coordinating acted like parents and made sure they were friendly. I saw that the volunteers and coordinators acted like parental figures and kept the children in line.
Through both methods of my research, I found many wonderful things. Among those is the willingness to help and determination among the volunteers and coordinators. Our Next Generation has created a fun, neutral environment for less than privileged children to learn and build crucial life skills. I am sure that Our Next Generation will continue to help children until the day they close their doors.
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