Written by: Lorelei Sims, Senior from Chapel Hill HS & Events Committee Co-Chair
This year, our Key Club made history by creating a new “project” called Aktion Key
Club, inspired by the Kiwanis Aktion Club’s ideal that development has no disability. For
the first time, students with moderate to severe disabilities at our school were inducted
into a club where they could fully participate. These students, many of whom are
non-verbal or have physical disabilities, now have the chance to be part of an
International organization.
Aktion Key Club meets twice a month, and we work alongside the students to help
them complete the same service projects as the rest of our Key Club. Together, we’ve
made cards for nursing homes, bookmarks, holiday decorations, and kindness rocks.
What’s even better is that we raised money to cover their state and international dues,
t-shirts, and club meeting supplies and snacks, so it wouldn’t cost their families anything
for their participation.
Being part of this project has changed how I see the world. Watching these students
feel proud of their work and hearing the feedback from their parents has been so
inspiring. Their teachers told us how much this has impacted them as much as the
students, and their parents said they’re proud to see their kids included in a way they
never thought possible.
So far, 72 Key Club members have volunteered during lunch or after school to support
Aktion Key Club. It’s taught us leadership, patience, and the importance of inclusivity.
Our project has also shown the whole community what can happen when we work
together.
We hope other clubs and schools will follow our lead to ensure that every student has a
chance to belong to an organization. The Aktion Key Club has been an unforgettable
experience that proves how powerful kindness and inclusion can be, and also builds a
bridge for these students as they move into adulthood and have the opportunity to
continue to be a part of the Kiwanis Family in Aktion Kiwanis.
Comments