Not many students dream about going to the poorest neighborhoods in the world for their summer vacation, but for junior Amanda Roberts, it’s an annual occurrence.
For the past two years, Amanda has traveled to the Dominican Republic with members from her parish at Christ Fellowship Church to spread joy among the youth in some of the poorest areas in the country.
“At first it was hard to communicate with the kids since I didn’t speak any Spanish, but I felt an immediate connection with them,” Amanda said.
Amanda and other members of her parish spend weeks with the kids in an effort to get to know them and have fun with children. The groups often go on “prayer walks” through the neighborhoods in the city where they find other children in need of someone to look after them.
More locally, Amanda is involved with the non-profit organization Touching Miami with Love(TML) and Agape Women’s Center. Touching Miami with Love is an organization that provides a free week-long summer camp to the at-risk youth of Miami’s Overtown. The camp is put on to keep youths off the streets and away from drugs and violence while giving them an opportunity to have fun.
“I love to work with the kids,” Amanda said. “It’s good that the underprivileged kids come in and know that someone cares and is looking out for them.”
Roberts works with children who are from fourth to fifth grades and entertains the kids by putting on skits and playing games with them.
Along with an abundance of charity work, Roberts also takes pride in creating artwork. In art class she flexes her creative muscles by painting and drawing. Previously this year, Amanda entered a painting she created into the Taste of Pinecrest’s art competition and won first place.
“I enjoy painting and drawing,” Amanda said. “It’s fun and it’s a good way to be creative.”