Students offered opportunity to teach local children about free enterprise

September 3, 2010

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Students in Free Enterprise are giving University of Florida students the opportunity to change a child’s life in one day.

Registration is open until Sept. 10 to all UF students to volunteer to be a teacher for elementary school children (K-5) in Alachua County.

Day of Difference is a twice yearly service event when UF students educate and inspire elementary children in kindergarten through fifth grade about their community, economics and free enterprise. This semester, it will take place on Oct. 1. Volunteers will receive 10 community service hours.

Students can sign up alone, with a teaching partner or with a group from your student organization. Prior to the event, students will receive a packet of lesson plans, activities and games. They will also attend a special training session to prepare for the event.

The lesson plans are unique and engaging. For example, volunteers will run a mock donut factory with the elementary school students to demonstrate the efficiency of assembly line production.

Last semester, more than 300 students volunteered in 152 classes at 15 Alachua County elementary schools.

Brett Rogers, a SIFE student coordinator of the event, said, “Day of Difference is a fulfilling experience in which you enrich the lives of children in our community by helping them to understand business principles in a fun way.”
For more information about training dates or to sign up to volunteer, please visit http://www.ufsife.com/dayofdifference/.