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Clubs and Military Families By Adina Neufeld It's hard enough being a kid. It's even harder moving to a new city, having to make friends and start a new school. But such is life for many of the 1.2 million young people whose parents are in the armed forces and who relocate, on average, every two to three years. Others may not move, but have to say goodbye when a parent is deployed. And today, with the highest number of National Guard and Reservists being deployed since the Korean War, an even larger number of young people face this challenge. But whether it's the second move or the tenth, the shock of a parent leaving, or the familiar routine of saying goodbye, pain doesn't discriminate. Every child experiences a sense of loss. Add to this the real fears families face in times of war, and the need for support grows greater by the minute. Enter Boys & Girls Clubs, one of the most trusted places of comfort for more than 500,000 military youth worldwide. In addition to the 395 Clubs and affiliated Youth Centers on military bases, Boys & Girls Clubs of America has increased its collaborative efforts with all four branches of the military. No matter where they are, these young people are welcomed by Youth Center professional staff, who provide them with stability and a sense of belonging.
Military partnerships with Clubs date back to the first Persian Gulf War in 1991. Here are just a few of the programs benefiting children whose parents are in the service: • Last summer, Major League Baseball’s Envoy Program sent baseball coaches to military bases overseas, teaching kids fundamentals of the game at free clinics and coaching sessions.Pillar of Strength The true character of a Boys & Girls Club comes through at the most trying times. When the father of a Club member at Fort Bragg, N.C., was killed in Afghanistan, his mother wanted him to be told at his Youth Center – surrounded by peers and counselors for support – rather than at home. Says a Clements Club mom in Texas, "The Club helps my children cope with their father's deployment by offering friends who experience the same things. By participating in sports, they have coaches who try to step in as a father figure, which makes them feel good. It makes it easier for a working mom with four children and a deployed husband." Reaching Out Today, approximately 70 percent of military families live outside of their base gates. This, combined with frequent moves, means that many military children may not be aware of the services and location of their local Boys & Girls Club. American children living overseas face cultural and language barriers, something youth centers can help them manage. Single parents who are deployed may need help finding meaningful after-school programming while they are away. A time of conflict requires outreach and communication, so that all young people can have a familiar place – one that looks and feels the same wherever they are – to call their own. Adina Neufeld is editorial coordinator at BGCA.
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Saddened by the fact that young Iraqis living inside a walled compound had no safe place to play outside, Lt. Sawyer organized his own troops to turn that empty building into a youth center. With seed money from the U.S. Army, the idea was met with abundant enthusiasm. Soon a community of American troops, Iraqi children and their parents came together to build what is today the Maghrib Youth Center, currently serving 400 kids.