Keeping Kalihi Youth Engaged during the pandemic

Our Youth Services Director Rona Mangayamyam summarized the many ways that KKV’s programs engaged community kids to build resilience in Kalihi.

We started the year planning to continue all of our youth programs. But Covid19 forced us change course. We transformed the Pacific Voices and KVIBE program sites into community food hubs. Early on, the Salvation Army reached out to Pacific Voices Coordinator Innocenta Sound Kikku to distribute food for the residents of the Towers at Kuhio Park, later expanding to Kalihi Valley Homes. At the same time, YMCA partnered with KVIBE to use its site to distribute lunches for students.

The youth programs became powerful teams for the distribution of public health information for kids and their family members. Participants of Pacific Voices began sharing stories of their stay at home life through art and decorated face masks.

In July, KKV’s Waiwai Summer Health Fellowship had 27 fellows who completed the course, with 10 attending the virtual class, and 17 attending the hybrid program. Several graduates volunteered last year for our “Census 2020 Campaign” and “My Health My Vote Campaign” with the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organization (AAPCHO). Others are currently participants in KKV’s Tennis program.

Although Covid19 brought many challenges, it also offered opportunities for Youth Services. We found new ways to connect with parents, grandparents, and guardians. Kids volunteered to help distribute food and masks to program alumni, thus enabling us to reconnect with them.

Our Youth Hui Hoaka Covid19 emergency program has enabled KKV to share information at Ka’ewai and Linapuni Elementary schools last summer. KVIBE is in communication with Dole Middle School Counsellors, strategizing about ways to work together going forward. Our youth are strong and give us hope about building resiliency in Kalihi Valley as the pandemic continues and recovery begins.