HCAP WEEKLY September 5, 2022

Program Participant Gains Literacy Skills and Self Confidence

In February, Derek enrolled in Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services after transferring to HCAP’s Kumuhonua Transitional Living Center from the Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi Villages of Maili program. Derek began working with Jonathan Martin, Assistant Program Manager at Kumuhonua, to search for employment. Unfortunately, the first two jobs Derek secured both fell through in a matter of weeks. Jonathan continued working with Derek to update his resume and apply for jobs similar to his previous experience in housekeeping.

While job searching, Derek’s struggles with literacy came to light. Though he had been enrolled in literacy classes, “Derek really got down on himself about being illiterate,” Jonathan shared. Derek had enrolled in literacy classes at age 60 with the goal of being able to read stories to his grandchildren and was making great progress in his reading and writing skills. He counseled Derek through self-motivation and sense of self-worth techniques in an effort to improve his self esteem, reminding Derek of his accomplishments. 

Jonathan also reminded Derek of the great job he had done with networking, while providing Derek a safe space to vent about his concerns and frustrations. Derek continued working with Jonathan and was soon able to find employment with the State of Hawaiʻi as a janitor/room cleaner at ʻAiea Elementary School. Jonathan helped Derek complete his new hire paperwork and accompanied him to his background check appointment. Derek is now awaiting his start date at his new job. 

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Hā Initiative Hosts August Family Night

Last week, the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program hosted family night events at the program’s five STEM Exploration Center locations. Parents, siblings, and friends were invited to the classrooms to meet teachers, see what the students have been working on throughout the month of August, and try out an experiment alongside the Hā Initiative participants. 

The STEM teaching staff led the activity, where students and their families explored how clouds are made by recreating the process inside of a two liter bottle. They learned that clouds are created when tiny, floating water droplets combine with warm, evaporated water, causing the droplets to expand and cool. This cool air then causes the water droplets to condense and form visible clouds. 

During the experiment, students and family members coated the inside of an empty two liter bottle with a small amount of rubbing alcohol, then pumped air into the bottle using a bicycle pump. The increased pressure inside the bottle caused the rubbing alcohol droplets to heat up and evaporate into a non-visible gas. They then removed the suction from the pump to cause a drop in pressure that results in a “cloud” inside the bottle. 

Click Here to learn more about the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program.

Work Furlough Participant Secures Full-Time Employment

Cheyn was referred to the Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services Program through the Laumaka Work Furlough Center. Through Nā Lima Hana, Cheyn was able to receive a bus pass to help him search for jobs and attend interviews, as well as the materials he needed to start work. In April, Cheyn started work full-time as a line cook at Cinnamon’s Restaurant. He has now completed over 90 days of employment and is close to reaching 180 days on the job. HCAP’s Kalihi-Palama District Service Center would like to congratulate Cheyn on his accomplishments so far. 

Click Here to learn more about Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services.

Building Math Skills with Kunia Keiki

This week, the Head Start keiki at Kunia V developed and engaged their reasoning, logic, and mathematical skills through predicting the number of toy animals that would fit on a piece of blue tape. The keiki’s predictions were recorded and compared against the actual number of toy animals.

To expand upon the concepts, the class compared and contrasted animal sizes, colors, and shapes, changed the size of the blue tape to formulate new predictions, and counted the toy animals to increase their number recognition skills.

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