On Wednesday afternoon’s from 5 – 7pm I volunteer at the Fitzroy Computer Clubhouse, which is part of the Fitzroy Learning network. The Fitzroy Learning network is a community based neighbourhood program where people from diverse backgrounds can get assistance with education and social/life skills. They assist new immigrants/refuges that need a helping hand. Often this is the first place people can get ESL lessons, information and support.
The Computer Clubhouse is modelled on the computer clubhouse established in 1993 in Boston. There are now over 100 computer clubhouses around the world. Their goal is to provide a creative and safe after-school environment for young people from under-served communities. Working with mentors, children/teens between 8-16 years explore and develop their ideas through the use of computers and technology.
I have been a mentor for the past 2 and half months. At times it has been a trying experience because not a lot of the kids want to do projects. A lot of times they want to play games or use the Internet. As a mentor you are only there to help them and cannot force them to do something they do no want to do.
Yesterday we had a situation where the clubhouse had to be closed an hour early. An incident occurred where 3 girls took a boy’s brand new shoes and threw it up a tree and when it fell back to the ground the back of the shoe split open. After that happened the boy came back to the clubhouse and tried to get the girls bag and punched the white board. Then a mob mentality occurred with boys and girls ganging up and chasing each other. At that point the Club House coordinator decided it was not a safe environment and closed the clubhouse an hour early.
All this happened unbeknownst to me. I was helping a girl with her website. I only realized what was happening after the clubhouse coordinator was chasing the boy who came back into the clubhouse.
After the clubhouse was closed we sat with the refugee support co-ordinator and discussed what happened and the implications and future actions. It was determined clubhouse is a privilege for the members and that punishment would have to given to the girls who damaged the shoes (suspended for a period of time, before allowed back to the clubhouse). Also the clubhouse would be closed the next day until both parties had time to talk about the problem and it was addressed to all members, as the gang/vigilante like behaviour was not accepted. Also it was determined the kids would no longer be able to leave the clubhouse, play in the park and come back to clubhouse. They either have to stay in the clubhouse or if they leave they cannot come back. Finally the boy needed to be talked to as well. Even though he was wronged, he shouldn’t have tried to take the girls items or damage property. As well as create this gang of boys chasing the girls. He is one of the leaders in the group of young children and needs to understand his role and what is expected of him.
The club house coordinator was a bit shaken up. For me it was learning experience of what children can be like and the discipline needed to address such a situation.
Later that evening as I was trying to fall asleep I felt sorry for the boy. The shoes were a pair of $120 shoes. Hearing from the support coordinator the shoes would have been an expensive item for his family to purchase. The boy would have felt this and I’m sure it would be hard for him to go home and tell his family what happened.
It made me think how children can be so cruel at times. Also we live in a time of unprecedented consumerism and materialism. I’m sure it must be hard for parents of meager means with children to accommodate their desire of items like shoes/clothing and all the accessories and toys children want.
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