Ending the year with reflection is a normal practice that millions do to welcome the new year. As an organization, we used the 12 days of Christmas to reflect on the parts of PT that we love. There is so much that Project Transformation has to celebrate as we look at our successful summer. Starting on Christmas Day, we took to social media to celebrate the less common components that complete the PT story. Be sure to follow us on all social media to stay up to date with all the fun things that we are doing.
On the 1st Day of Christmas, PT gave to me: Interns who help us lead.
If you know about PT, you know that we couldn’t do this work without our interns. It was important to start off our 12 Days by celebrating the leadership that our interns bring to the table. We are amazed by the creativity and excitement that these young adults bring to our program!
On the 2nd Day of Christmas, PT gave to me: Two Harambe Dances
Whether it is with our kiddos at site, intern group time, or with volunteers, one thing we know how to do well is to have fun. Change happens through relationships, which means that we are intentional about the time that we spend together. It’s important to have fun together and to embrace our silly side every once in a while. One way we do that is to occasionally dance together during our “Harambe” times.
On the 3rd Day of Christmas, PT gave to me: Three amazing geographies
One of the beauties of having Site churches everywhere is that we have the opportunity to serve in 3 amazing geographies. Austin, San Antonio, and the Rio Grande is where PT Rio Texas lives, plays, and works for change. Churches and volunteers from each geography have poured into this program in such a meaningful way, and we are blessed to have such amazing partners.
On the 4th Day of Christmas, PT gave to me: Four Reading Buddies
If you have had the opportunity to experience reading buddies (online or in-person), you know firsthand that it is one of our treasured times of service where we personally work with our kiddos. Reading Buddies gives our kids the opportunity for community members to invest in their literacy simply, by forming meaningful relationships and reading out loud.
On the 5th Day of Christmas, PT gave to me: Five Books to Read
At PT, it is important for our kids to own books in their own homes and to encourage literacy at home. When students went home for virtual learning this past Spring 2020, we went to work and made it our mission to ensure that our students had books for their own personal libraries. In Summer 2020, we gave a total of 1,843 books to PT kiddos and their families. Our 5 book recommendations for reading at home for the holidays are those listed in the graphic.
On the 6th Day of Christmas, PT gave to me: 6 Areas of Learning
Although our summer camps have an emphasis on literacy, PT believes in the holistic development of the child, which focuses on the whole child. For this reason, we have 6 major areas of learning that we emphasize to develop a certain part of our kiddos. Learn about all the components of summer on our website!
On the 7th Day of Christmas, PT gave to me: 7 Churches Hosting
PT wouldn’t be able to function without the support and ministry of our Host churches, which is where all the magic happens. Each church has different skills and strengths that they bring to the table, but all 7 have one thing in common and that is to serve their community.
On the 8th Day of Christmas, PT gave to me: 8 Chapters in Unity
Did you know that there are not one, not two, but 8 chapters of Project Transformation around the country? When PT went virtual in Summer 2020, our national network worked together to put all the pieces together for a fun and meaningful summer amidst a pandemic. We are so blessed to have such a fantastic network of creative minds that work together for the same mission.
On the 9th Day of Christmas, PT gave to me: 9 Board Members
The unsung heroes of PT are our Board members. These 9 members have a heart for service, the 3 C’s, and making a difference in communities. We appreciate their hard work in doing the behind the scenes work to keep this organization, successful and effective.
On the 10th Day of Christmas, PT gave to me: Ten Rooms in Housing
One of the greatest things that came out of 2020 was the Grand Opening of our new housing in San Antonio. We are excited to have a permanent home to house interns in the summer and guests throughout the year. Our 10 rooms in our new home are where interns will eat, sleep, play, but more importantly, it is where community will happen.
On the 11th Day of Christmas, PT gave to me: 11 Interns Serving
Summer 2021 we will be hiring 49 interns to work in either of our 3 geographies. The term “Servant Leader,” is what we refer to our interns as, because more often than not, they put others’ needs before theirs for the greater good of the community. Serving is much more than leading a Reading Buddy session or helping a kiddo with a boo-boo. Serving is building relationships with those around you and putting those relationships first. If you or someone you know would like to join our team of “Servant Leaders,” check out our website to apply.
On the 12th Day of Christmas, PT gave to me: Twelve Meals Provided
Another way that we are intentional about relationships at PT is through weeknight intern dinners where volunteers bring meals and eat with our interns to form relationships and build community. There is nothing greater than a home-cooked meal when you are away from your home, which is why these dinners are so special. Intentional relationships, food, and quality time are a great recipe for community.
