Vivian, what does your nonprofit do? Helping Hands: A Students for Students Movement INC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that aims to tackle educational inequality and inspire teens/students to become changemakers in their community. To do so, we create partnerships with schools situated in low-income communities to help provide educational resources and academic opportunities to underprivileged students.
Adrianna, what inspired you two to start the nonprofit? In 2017, I founded Helping Hands Club with my sister, Gabriella Kallabat, within our district community in Bloomfield Hills. This club focused on immersing individuals in the role of a “global citizen” through different committees that each focused on their own global issue. One of these committees was the Education Committee, which delved into inequalities in educational resources. Vivian was a part of this committee, and as their team continued to discuss their findings regarding educational disparities among schools, Vivian and I realized through discussion that we wanted to make a direct change to this problem.
Vivan, prior to the COVID-19 public health crisis, what did your nonprofit’s work look like? We would visit our partner schools multiple times a week for tutoring aid/academic support and monthly to hold seminars and workshops. Nevertheless, we, as well as our partner schools, emphasize the importance of our volunteers to have social interactions with students to create stronger relationships. This occurs in the form of conversations with students about how they are feeling, their interests inside and outside of school, their career goals, etc.
Adrianna, what did your nonprofit’s work look like during the coronavirus outbreak? Once COVID-19 came, we were unable to go to classrooms and work side-by-side with students. Still, we understood the importance of maintaining our connection with students and giving them the academic and social support that they needed during this stressful time. Thus, we instilled an online tutoring platform that has now extended nationwide, allowing us to reach even more students.
Vivian, how is the online tutoring platform working out? It has absolutely exceeded our expectations. So far, we have been able to make our virtual services and initiatives available to students in Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York and California with the help of our amazing partners at the Detroit Pistons, Bloomfield Hills Board of Education and MI COVID Sitters. We have been able to provide helpful one-on-one mentorship to students who have been struggling with their schoolwork due to challenges associated with remote learning like the lack of instruction and inability to receive individual aid.
Adrianna, what types of classes are being offered online? Reading Seminars (various age groups), Standardized Test Preparation and Online Business Building Seminars. Anyone can sign up for these classes. It is difficult during this time to collaborate with others based on one’s interests; thus, these courses based on different passions (such as our Sustainable Living Seminar) allow students to have a community where they explore an interest that they already have or to find a new interest through different discussions.
For more information about Kallabat's and Yee’s nonprofit or to view all of the services available, visit helpinghandschange.org.