Management

My name is Valerie McKinty, I live in N. Ireland and I am a full-time Post-primary School Teacher. I attended Eckerd College in 2001/2002 on a BEI (Business Education Initiative) Program for one year. During this year I had many wonderful opportunities to meet new people, to visit many different States and cities, to enjoy gorgeous sunshine and also to be part of a service team.

As a Christian I believe that everyone is special to God and therefore was delighted that I could be involved in helping others. While at Eckerd College I was given the opportunity to go on a Service Team to Chicago for one week over Spring Break. There were about 12-15 on the team altogether and the week in Chicago was one that changed my life.

Throughout the week we were involved in three different ministries. The first of which was working in two different homeless shelters and helping to serve food. It made me realize that so often we take the basic comforts in life for granted, when so many are without food and shelter.

The second ministry was helping to promote reading in a local hospital and the third ministry was working with children who are affected by aids. For me it was the most heartbreaking and wonderful experience I've ever had. We spent a few days teaching lessons to the children and it was one of the events in my life that made me realize that I definitely wanted to be a teacher and work with children and young people.

Since my year at Eckerd College I have continued to be involved in many service teams. Over the summer months I am always involved in at least two Holiday Bible Clubs and one summer camp. Over the years I've been in a number of different countries on ministry teams and the latest of which was when I went to Kenya.

While in Kenya I was using my experience and knowledge to teach English to children in a school and in working with a Street Children's Project, teaching English, Maths, Art and Games. This experience taught me that children in Kenya are no different from children in N. Ireland, they are just born in to a less privileged country and family.

Presently I am teaching 11-18 yr olds and am involved in my own church every weekend working with children and young people.

My experience at Eckerd College was a building block for some of the work I am involved in now.