Residents@JV

Best Buddies International

7:30pm, Monday evening, Oct. 02, 2006, the Jacob’s Village bunch of Wanda, Debbie, Donna Kay, Mike, Michael, and Scott had their first get acquainted gathering with Best Buddies International at the Liberal Arts Building on the University of Southern Indiana’s campus. Home coordinators Carol and Barry had the residents there in plenty of time arriving on the USI campus in the dark and locating the Liberal Arts Building. Each Jacob’s Village resident had a buddy in waiting as well as a few other disabled individuals that were paired off with assigned USI students and the questioning began. To find out more about each other, both best buddy and disabled individual filled out a ‘Get to know you better’ paper that highlighted likes and common interests. This program is designed to administer a learning experience for a college student by developing and providing a relationship with a pre-described individual. The ‘Best Buddy’ program is a volunteer type of student service. Whether it evolves into a pen-pal relationship, a companion spending time with, or a get together ‘go for an outing’ type of friendship, it is worked out between the two of how it will be created, all within guidelines. It’s beneficial to all parties concerned to become friends with people who are different from their selves to expand their mind. Some students are pursuing an education major for their degree and this can and should broaden their understanding of disabilities. Everyone matched up well by first observation, sat around, conversed and shared ice-cream. There were about 24 people in attendance for the initial introduction meeting and the ‘Best Buddy’ program was kicked off. It seemed like a good relationship could and would be developed between the ones involved. A good time was had by all while looking forward to future engagements.

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2004

Connections have been made since the first meeting of the ‘Best Buddy’ program. For instance: greeting cards and e-mail messages have been sent, some have made visits to Jacob’s Village, a bouquet of birthday flowers were sent to a Jacob’s Village resident, and four out of six ‘Best Buddies’ joined their buddy for an Old Fashioned Family Picnic on the grounds of the WestWood General Baptist Church on South Boehne Camp Road. Many activities and games were captured on film by the cameras that were flashing at this feel-good looking Sunday afternoon picnic. A successful program is in the making and the proof will be in the pictures that will soon be developed.

posted by J V Resident Blog @ 11:02 AM