News

GSV continues to grow and expand in our mission to serve women, children and adolescents. We have new placements this year in our Domestic and International program.

MS 447 After-School Program

MS 447 is a middle school in an underserved neighborhood of The Bronx.  Our volunteer, Kat Meier, is starting a new child-empowerment and literacy program called the “Aiming High Program” which provides internships, mentorship, and leadership development for students.

Young Adult Intern Program

The Young Adult Internship Program is a 14-week internship program for low-income New York City young adults aged 16-24 who are not working and not in school. The staff, including GSV volunteer Michelle Roche, provides workshops and one-on-one counseling to youth, connects them with employment opportunities and GED/educational programs, and helps them on a path toward self-sufficiency.

Safe Homes Project

Safe Homes is a community-based domestic violence advocacy and service program in Brooklyn, NY which provides a hotline, counseling, safety-planning and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence (most of whom are 19-24 year-old women) and their children, and runs a 20-bed shelter. Our GSV volunteer, Alaina Williams, helps provide a range of direct supports and activities to shelter residents and their children.

Grady High School After-School Program

Grady High School is located in Coney Island, Brooklyn and serves a high-needs population of students where the graduation rate is below 50%. GSV Volunteer Valerie Steffl helps run the Good Shepherd After-School Program, which provides students with integrated learning, recreational, arts, and developmental activities.

Oruro, Bolivia

Oruro is a city of 400,000 in the highlands of Bolivia. It is considered the “folkloric capital of Bolivia” because of the concentration of artisans and festive carnivals. It is also a very poor city with a high level of unemployment, domestic violence, and orphaned or neglected children. The Good Shepherd ministries in Oruro include a cafeteria for families, a day care center for needy children, and various outreach and advocacy services for domestic violence victims. There is also a shelter for women and children who are fleeing abusive situations. GSV volunteers Danielle Phelan and Lynne Shea assist at these sites, doing everything from preparing and serving meals, street outreach in the local markets, and recreational activities with the children.

Sabah, Malaysia

In the state of Sabah, Malaysia, which is located on the island of Borneo, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd provide a variety of services to women and children in a remote rural village. They have a youth hostel for school children age 6-12 who would otherwise have to walk up to 3 or 4 hours to and from school every day.  Prior to the setup of the hostel, school attendance was sporadic and education was lacking. They also run a Rural Training Center that provides educational and recreational activities for the children. Our volunteer, Magdalena Mazurek, helps teach English to the children and does community outreach to the surrounding villages served by the Good Shepherd.