What is ECLIPSe?
In 2001, a state
team involving the Ohio Grantmakers Forum, Ohio Community Service
Council, Campus Compact and Ohio Department of Education funded ten
state-wide Partnerships in order to develop youth grantmaking
councils that support service learning projects. Service learning
is a powerful educational strategy that makes school work more
relevant by allowing students to use classroom knowledge in a
real-world, hands-on way through providing service that meets actual
community needs. Hancock County was one of the original communities
to receive this funding and is now only one of three partnerships
remaining in the state.
In 2001, ECLIPSe
was created in order to promote youth philanthropy, integrate
service learning into the community, increase youth civic engagement
and expand the number of youth-adult partnerships in Hancock
County. Partners include the Findlay City Schools, Hancock County
Educational Service Center, The Findlay-Hancock County Community
Foundation, United Way of Hancock County, Campus Compact at The
University of Findlay, OSU Extension and Hancock Youth Leadership.
ECLIPSe members
are Hancock County youth in the eighth grade through college. In
addition to personally participating in a wide variety of service
learning projects such as Make A Difference Day, Coats for
Christmas, National Youth Service Day, Service Brochures, March of
Dimes Walk America and the Community Read, ECLIPSe has granted over
$36,750 to support 37 local youth-driven service learning projects
over the last four and a half years. More than 100 youth have
participated in ECLIPSe since 2001 and their projects impact
approximately 10,000 youth annually. ECLIPSe provides a safe place
to develop new skills, expand networks, connect to community,
develop identity, explore career and other interests, and enjoy the
rewards of contributing to society. ECLIPSe empowers youth and
proves what valuable resources they are to Hancock County. Youth
participate as equal voting members with adult Partners and they
facilitate and run their own meetings and activities.
The ECLIPSe Partnership
Coordinator also works as a consultant with the Findlay City,
Hancock County Schools and the University of Findlay to provide
professional development, curriculum integration tools and technical
assistance in developing and implementing service learning
projects. All local ECLIPSe partners provide either monetary or in-kind
support to the project. ECLIPSe youth are taking more of an active
role for the funding of their projects. They hosted a Dance
Marathon in November 2005. They organized the Million Penny
Campaign coinciding with the
United Way’s 50th Year
Anniversary in 2005, and they organize the Quarter Campaign each
Fall in the city and county schools. In 2007, they are starting a
fundraising campaign where each member is working to raise $200.
The funds raised from these events will help sustain and grow this
service learning partnership in Hancock County. It will allow more
youth to experience the power of service learning. It will also
encourage more youth civic engagement and strong youth-adult
partnerships in addressing significant community issues.
If
you would like more information about how YOU can join ECLIPSe and
be more engaged in your community or if you know a student who
might be interested in learning more about ECLIPSe, contact Kimberly
Bash at
