BELLINGHAM -- Mother-daughter team Silvana and Sondra Clark, a senior at Bellingham High School, discuss Sondra's new book, "77 Creative Ways Kids Can Serve," a step-by-step guide on volunteerism for kids 8 through 13.
Question: How long have you been volunteering? Why is it integral to your life and who you are as a young adult?
Answer: I've been volunteering all my life. I was asked to volunteer to be in a video for cloth diapers when I was 6 months old. My mom said I kept crawling away, so they didn't get the shots they needed! Since then, I've been a spokesperson for Childcare Worldwide, based here in Bellingham, and also a spokesperson for Soles4Souls, based in Nashville, Tenn.
I've volunteered in every way from cleaning bathrooms at a shelter to working on the (Hurricane) Katrina efforts to serving breakfast in the slums of Peru. It's just a natural part of my life. I also try and encourage other people to volunteer. That's why I speak to schools, churches and service clubs across the country, and write the books I do. People see me and think if an ordinary kid can volunteer, then they can too.
Q: What have been some of the most memorable experiences that you've had volunteering?
A: When I was 12, I went to Kenya and Uganda. We took a float plane to visit a remote island that didn't have electricity or running water. I met the kids and was so impressed with their enthusiasm for life … even though most of them were orphans. They lived in clean but bare buildings, with one houseparent for 20 children. I brought 140 T-shirts. We spread them out on the ground. Then the teacher gave each kid a leaf as pretend money. They got to pick out a shirt and then "pay" me with the leaf. The teacher wanted to teach them what a store was like. Afterwards she told me this was the first time they had gotten to pick out their own clothes. Normally they just take whatever hand-me-downs someone gives them.
I also served breakfast in Lima, Peru. Childcare Worldwide gives 11,000 children breakfast every morning. As I was serving them bread and fortified milk, one of the staff told me this was the only meal most of these kids get until the next morning. That made a big impression on me.
Last summer, we were in rural villages of Guatemala, giving away shoes through Soles4Souls. We met kids who ran over rocky paths barefoot because they didn't even own a pair of shoes. I did a shoe drive for Soles4Souls in Bellingham last October. It was amazing that people in this community contributed over 5,000 pairs of shoes in one day.
Q: What have been some of your most unique responses from the groups you've spoken to over the years?
A: When I was 12, we took a year and traveled around the U.S. for a year in an RV. Every Sunday I spoke at a different church or school, asking people to sponsor a child through Childcare Worldwide. Many pastors were "scared" to turn over the pulpit to a 12-year-old. They thought I'd be shy or nervous. After each presentation, the pastor would say, "If I had known you had such a good message, I would have given you more time." Once I spoke to kids in Ramstein Army Base in Germany. They didn't want to be there and talked and scowled at me the whole time. You just have to keep doing the best you can.
Q: How has your faith influenced your life?
A: My Christian faith plays a big part in my life. Knowing that I've been given amazing opportunities makes me want to share what I have with others. My book "77 Creative Ways Kids Can Serve" is designed to help kids know they can serve in ways suited to their interests and abilities. I don't think, "Oh, this is what I SHOULD do as a Christian." I try to live my live in a way that's based on the Bible and still have my own personality.
Q: What is the importance of the performing arts in your personal development and, perhaps, in others?
A: Performing arts plays a big role in my life. I auditioned for Western's Summer Stock when I was 5 and got a part in "Fiddler on the Roof." Since then I've done humorous monologues across the country for thousands of people. I just finished playing Fantine in Bellingham High School's production of "Les Miserables," which was an amazing experience.
Being in drama teaches you so much about reading an audience, taking control of situations, and having confidence in yourself. People with strong public-speaking skills can get through job interviews with ease. Because I do TV and radio appearances, I've used my performing arts skills to know how to answer tricky interview questions and how to stay positive when an interviewer is a bit on the cranky side.
Q: What do you do in your downtime?
A: Like all teenagers, I like to hang out with my friends. My family travels a lot, so whenever we have a few days off we'll go explore a new place. Over spring break we went "canyoneering" in Mount Zion National Park.