Project Transformation

Partner Churches

Transforming Communities through Relationships

"What can I say about Project Transformation? I am not sure I can begin to grasp the appropriate words to describe how this summer camp has blessed our lives... Through the weeks, as the staff worked with [our special needs grandson], he was like a budding flower and now...it seems like he is going to 'burst forth' with success in being able to communicate and interact with his peers and those around him."

Project Transformation:

• challenges college students to serve in needy communities and to focus on vocational discernment, helping them envision and consider full-time ministry and community service beyond college
• provides children in low-income neighborhoods and poor-performing schools with a safe, stimulating summer camp experience with a focus on reading and exposure to interested and caring adults
• offers churches a way to reach out to the communities surrounding them, building stronger communities and relationships that can continue to be developed beyond the summer.

Project Transformation is an 8-week Monday-Thursday day camp for children in first through sixth grades, hosted by churches in Charlottesville and Waynesboro, and operated by college interns. Interns provide a full slate of activities, beginning each morning with a time of singing, followed by Bible lessons and worship, an hour of reading with volunteer tutors, crafts, recreation, and a time of afternoon enrichment when church and community volunteers introduce children to their passions and professions. Part vacation Bible school and part academic enrichment, Project Transformation focuses on reading skills and community involvement, giving children from some of the area’s most vulnerable neighborhoods exposure to a variety of experiences and people within a Christian context. This summer’s program will run June 13 - August 4, 2005.

Local partner churches and individual volunteers support Project Transformation through volunteering their time to read with children, donating supplies, sharing meals with interns, scheduling afternoon enrichment presentations and field trips, financial contributions, and more. Project Transformation partnered with over 20 local Presbyterian and United Methodist congregations in 2004. Individual volunteers are also needed, especially to help with reading and afternoon enrichment times. Make plans to volunteer now and ask your congregation to partner with us this summer.

The Partner Church Commitment

• Supporting the interns spiritually through prayer. This is a tough and rewarding summer job for young people who feel called to explore ministry. They need and appreciate your prayers!
• Being a part of the summer experience by providing 10 reading volunteers per day for a week at one of the sites. Each child spends a half an hour Monday-Thursday in one-on-one assisted reading time with a volunteer. Reading volunteers spend an hour and read with two different children each day. Volunteers can be middle school aged through retirement and are given an orientation when they arrive at camp to volunteer– the only qualification is being able to read.
• Soliciting volunteers from the congregation for afternoon enrichment time. Come out for any amount of time between 1-3pm during camp to share your profession or passion with the children. Last summer brought a storyteller, firefighters, pilots, a guitarist, a field trip to a local farm, and an afternoon spent making and decorating bird houses.
• Providing program supplies and snacks. Your church can help by donating craft supplies for two weeks of camp, along with healthy snacks and drinks.
• Supporting Project Transformation financially. Interns come from schools in Virginia other states and they ask their home churches for financial contributions to cover a portion of their stipend. Project Transformation partner churches in the Waynesboro and Charlottesville area provide the remaining stipend support. This is a wonderful gift enabling a young person to explore ministry for the summer, while also earning money for the school year.  All amounts are appreciated and helpful.
• Provide and share dinner with all interns one week (5 nights) of the summer in Charlottesville.  Interns appreciate the home-cooked meals and the fellowships with partner congregations. On occasion we are able to schedule pool parties or cookouts at volunteers’ homes or Sunday afternoon meals.
• Participating in the Family Fun Nights. These are informal times of fellowship when children’s families, partner congregations, community volunteers, host congregations, and interns gather to share a meal and get to know one another. These are wonderful opportunities for those unable to volunteer during the day.

Project Transformation is an ecumencial program offering partner churches a way to work together for children in our communities. Partner churches also have the opportunity to get to know college interns who are considering full time ministry and to support them in their vocational exploration. An orientation session will be held in the spring to go over details of the summer, make introductions, and answer questions for you as you organize your congregation to take part. To help support this ministry as a partner church download the Agreement Form.

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