C.A.S.A.

So I have decided to volunteer with a program called C.A.S.A. It stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. There was a service fair in one of the hallways at UVU, and this was the first stand I went to. I will basically be working with children who have suffered from neglect and abuse. Now I know what you're thinking-"Are you sure you want to do that? It's going to be sad!" I think just about every person I've talked to about it has said that to me. I'm not going to lie, it really frustrates me when people give me that response. Of course I know it will be hard! But I'm not thinking about me. These kids have been through so much that I can't even begin to comprehend, and I think that my being sad for awhile doesn't even compare to what these kids have had to go through. They have been neglected, abused, and taken out of their homes and placed with complete strangers. Who cares if it makes me sad for a little while, they need someone to talk to and to love them, and that's what I'm going to do. I will be assigned to a child's case and my job will be to take that child and do different activities with them a couple times a month. Pretty much just be a friend to them. I'm in training right now and they said at first the kids are a little shy, but after a couple months they will open up and tell us how they are really doing. I will work along side the child's therapist, attorney, teachers, and foster parents to make sure the child is progressing. I will also have to report back to the C.A.S.A. coordinator and the child's attorney every month to let them know how the child is doing. I'm so excited to start this and to meet the child that I will be working with!!! It's going to be a wonderful learning experience, and it will keep me serving until I go back to Africa!