by Judy Polanco
Staff Writer
Working at the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) offers a challenging atmosphere to its employees. Sophomore Helen Rocha and senior Anna Ayvazian face this challenge on a weekly basis.
The non-profit organization’s program helps to keep young women off the streets, candidly discusses issues that young women face and teaches them to interact with other club members and their community.
Rocha and Ayvazian are Y-teen instructors for the young women’s program. An instructor’s job is demanding but equally rewarding. As instructors, Rocha and Ayvazian develop a curriculum to heighten the teens’ awareness about themselves, other people and life experiences. But their most influential duty is to serve as role models.
Rocha, who works at Rancho Cucamonga Middle School, has integrated this aspect of being a role model into her own life outside of the Y-teen club.
“I see myself saying I shouldn’t cuss or even be acting like that because I am a role model now,” said Rocha.
A typical day starts with a definition of a word and a quote for the day. The girls who are able to use the word in a coherent sentence, are rewarded with a prize. Next, the teens fill out sheets about their values and interests and discuss their responses amongst themselves. The day concludes with a game.
Earlier this week, Rocha and the Y-teen club visited the Ontario Residence Home. The girls created cards with Easter greetings and passed them out to the elderly residents. Rocha wanted the girls to visit the home because the elderly are often abandoned and do not have the opportunity to interact with people outside the home. She believes it is important for the girls to give back to their community in any way they can.
“It hit them hard,” said Rocha. “They were depressed but very happy to see the reactions they got when they gave out the cards.”
Ayvazian has similar plans for her group at Vina Danks Middle School. As part of the celebration for Easter, the teens will decorate eggs and hand them out at local hospitals or retirement homes. Ayvazian, who was introduced to the YWCA program through Rocha, has already developed strong ties with her group, after only a month of work.
Being the youngest in a family of three did not allow her to experience what it would be like to have younger brothers and sisters. But through the opportunity the YWCA offers, Ayvazian is able to experience this emotional bond with her “little girls,” as she affectionately calls them.
In the beginning, Ayvazian experienced apprehension from the girls. In the past three months, three teachers had come in and out of their lives. The natural reaction from the teens was that Ayvazian would be leaving shortly, too.
That could not have been further from the truth. Ayvazian gained their respect and trust by reinforcing her own feelings she had developed toward the women.
“I’m here to stay and I’m not going to leave you,” said Ayvazian to the girls.
Ayvazian and Rocha oversee approximately 25-30 girls between the ages of 11-15. The young teens are attracted to the program because it gives them the opportunity to be part of a group and engage in “girl talk.” Ayvazian and Rocha have noticed that the teens are very excited about the club. Every week, the girls meet at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time and beg to stay at least 30 minutes after the club concludes.
Ayvazian recalls a time when a club member was hinting for a ride home. She believes it is very important for the girls to have a sense of stability when they are with her. No matter what the girls need or ask, Ayvazian wants them to know that she will be there for them.
“My little girls are amazing,” boasted Ayvazian.
Their objective is to “physically empower them as women so they can succeed as they go through life,” said Rocha.
Since the YWCA is a non-profit organization, it relies heavily on donations and fundraisers. In order to raise money for the YWCA program, the Y-teen Club will be hosting a roller skating night at Skate Express on April 23. The tickets are $3.75 and all profits will go directly to the Y-teen Club.
Anyone interested can call Rocha at (909) 392-6305 for more information.
