“I have to say this experience has been one of the most rewarding experiences out of all I have been involved in.”

Melody Harkness, a sophomore in First Year College, is partnered with a 7 year old girl through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

A partnership beginning in 2003 involves University students being partnered with children in the third through fifth grades, who participate in the YMCA after school program at Wiley Elementary School.

The overall partnership is between CSLEPS, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle and the YMCA of the Triangle, according to Karrah Durham, director of Campus Pals and a junior in history.  

According to Durham, the Campus Pals program meets Wednesday afternoons and goes to Wiley Elementary School for about two hours.  In the Campus Pals program, volunteers meet with the child at the school.

“For the first part of the afternoon, we do one-on-one mentoring with our child,” Durham said.  “The second part of the afternoon is a group orientated activity that we plan.  The activity can be outside or in the gym, just something where we all are together.”

Durham said she sees Campus Pals and Big Brothers Big Sisters as a way to give back to the community.

“It’s a great way to give back to the Raleigh community,” Durham said.  “This is a great way to be a positive role model and help these children with school work and interact with other children.”

According to Durham, Campus Pals tries to expose the children to college life.

“We try to expose them to higher education,” Durham said.  “We like to bring them on campus.  We’re planning to bring them to a soccer game and maybe doing a scavenger hunt with them on campus,” 

Harkness said she participates in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, which partners a student with a child in the Raleigh community.  The Big Brothers Big Sisters program is less structured than the Campus Pals program because it is independent meetings set up by the child’s parent or guardian and the student.

“Campus Pals led me to the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.  I have been mentoring a seven-year-old little girl from an under-privileged home since January,” Harkness said.  

According to Harkness, she normally sees her “little” sister once a week.

“I usually see her once a week for five or more hours,” Harkness said.  “We visit the movies, the park, the pool and visit events on campus.”

According to Harkness, students involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program can see their little grow. 

“She has grown so much intellectually and she even stated that she wants to attend N.C. State in the future,” Harkness said. 

Harkness said Campus Pals and Big Brothers Big Sisters has been beneficial to her and her little.

“The time really makes a difference,” Harkness said.  “I recommend Campus Pals or Big Brothers Big Sisters to everyone.”