So I had planned on doing a weekly blog talking about the cultural differences I’ve encountered and about my curriculum, but I was just to excited to wait and share about this amazing opportunity I have here in London.
One of my courses in my program is a Social Welfare course. It is a service learning based course, which includes a community service placement throughout London accompanied with lectures learning about various welfare programs in the UK. Some of these places include community involvement, homeless shelters, shelters working with mentally and physically disabled and you can imagine the other types. I have been blessed to be placed at XLP. It stands for “The eXceL Project”. Their mission is to spread hope to what we would call “inner city” young adults. These are young children and secondary school kids exposed to gangs, knife and gun violence, dysfunctional families, drugs, and anything you can imagine. I know this kind of thing happens all over the world and we see it in the States, but I will be interested to discover just how similar or different their issues are here in London.
This is a faith-based organization, however, they are not prejudice against other religions. The primary goal is to show the school kids that an education is worth pursuing and GOD has truly blessed them with talents and ways to succeed in this world, whether they are able to see it or not. Everyone has something to proud of and these kids don’t always have the role model in their life who will be there to encourage and guide them through this vast and scary universe.
While I have been blessed to have a wonderful supporting group of family and friends who have been my everything during my educational and career goals, I cannot imagine what it must be like to face this world alone. While I will not be there very long, I pray that I may touch one of these young adults and show them love, compassion, hope, and confidence.
Obviously this is something I am extremely passionate about. I just met with supervisors today to discuss the content of XLP. I have not even begun my work with the ministry, but I am already in awe of this program. Like I said, I have been extremely fortunate with who GOD has placed in my life and I truly wish to give the same experience to someone else. It has meant the world to me to have my loved ones by my side and I know there are people out there who need and deserve that feeling.
Please check out their website below and just see for yourself what they are doing here in London. It is quite amazing and I cannot wait to keep you updated on my time at XLP. A Day In The Life of helping those in need.
http://www.xlp.org.uk/
“A Day In The Life” -The Beatles