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Building Friendship Through Shared Experience
Youth leaders and Spanish-speaking students come together for a day of music, art, and teamwork
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On November 20, a warm and meaningful day unfolded at Palisades Park Presbyterian Church. For this special Outreach Day, Chance Makers invited a group of Spanish-speaking elementary students—an event fully planned and led by our youth leaders. The goal was simple but powerful: to show that different languages and backgrounds are never barriers to connection.
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From the moment the visiting students walked in, slightly unsure and quiet, our Chance Makers welcomed them with bright smiles and a cheerful “¡Hola!”. Immediately, the space began to feel open, friendly, and safe.
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The day began with a small student-led concert featuring flute, violin, viola, and saxophone. Music quickly became the shared language. Although the students came from different cultures, they reacted with the same curiosity and joy by listening closely at first, then tapping along, and finally applauding with excitement. It was the first moment where the walls between them began to fall away.
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During lunch, students shared chicken and pizza around the table. What began as quiet bites soon turned into friendly conversation. They asked each other names, commented on the food, and invited one another to sit together. Laughter filled the room, and the students started to feel more like friends than program participants.
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The slime art activity was a highlight. As the kids mixed ingredients and chose colors together, language barely mattered. They compared their creations, shared giggles, and celebrated each other’s work. Creativity, it turned out, was its own form of communication.
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One of the most meaningful parts of the day was a puppet theater session on bullying prevention—written, designed, and performed entirely by our Chance Makers. The message was simple but important: our words matter, and we can choose respect. After the performance, the younger students echoed phrases like “We are all friends” and “Bullying stops with us,” nodding thoughtfully. It was a quiet but powerful moment of leadership in action.
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The energy lifted again during board games and team challenges. As teams formed and friendly competition began, the room filled with cheers, encouragement, and high-fives. Students who had only met hours earlier were calling each other by name and celebrating each other’s wins. In those moments, a real sense of community began to take shape.
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Our Chance Makers proved themselves not just as “future leaders,” but as leaders today—students who notice, welcome, include, and uplift others. This Outreach Day became an experience of cultural understanding, empathy, shared learning, and friendship. When the children said, “I hope we meet again,” it was clear that something meaningful had taken root.
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As always at Give Chances, we lead together, grow together, and connect together.
And this day was a reminder of the kind of change young people can create when compassion guides their actions.
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