Aspiring teachers in the Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE) program at El Dorado High School learned a valuable lesson about giving back by donating 162 Build-A-Bears to pediatric patients at El Paso Children’s Hospital.
The heartfelt initiative not only brought joy to the patients but also taught future educators the importance of community service and compassion.
“This allows me to connect more with kids in need, especially during hard times, and I know being a teacher, you will deal with a lot of things like that. So, it's preparing me mentally and emotionally, and (I’m) just choosing (to do) something out of the kindness of my heart,” said Valeria Garcia, who graduated from El Dorado High School in June and planned to become an elementary school teacher.
On April 23, about 30 TAFE students gathered at Build-A-Bear to assemble, dress, and package the plush toys as part of their annual spring community service project. The students successfully raised a record-breaking $4,808 to purchase the toys and one accessory for each bear.
Additionally, they participated in the iconic heart ceremony that the brand is known for, completing birth certificates with names and dedications before delivering the bears to the children at the hospital.
The toys are used at the hospital to help pediatric patients learn about procedures involving IV tubing or chemo ports, providing comfort and reducing anxiety. Each bear is given to a child to keep and take home.
“They are used as a teaching tool to teach (pediatric patients) what they are going to be doing to their little bodies, how they're going to be giving or receiving those treatments, and then their face lights up when they tell them, this is for you, and you're going to get to go home with it,” said Virginia Meza, the Career and Technical Education teacher at El Dorado High School who also oversees the TAFE program.
Students in the TAFE program learn about careers in education while developing character, service, and leadership skills necessary to become effective educators. They participate in externships at elementary and middle schools and can earn an Education Aide I certification.
Meza said that service projects help students develop life skills such as appreciating others and contributing to the community. Additionally, they develop communication, empathy and problem-solving skills that are transferable to teaching. Students have been participating in the Build-A-Bear project for the past 10 years.
“Community service is at the heart of TAFE,” Meza said. “And them asking for donations, performing community service projects, is a valuable experience that they will take with them for the rest of their years.”
Empathy was one of the most valuable skills that Jayden Ramirez learned from the Build-A-Bear project, which will help her in her future career as an elementary school teacher. She graduated from El Dorado High School in June.
“Honestly, I think it gives me a sense of knowing how kids' lives are outside of school as well, and to remember that everyone's human and that to have empathy for them, so no matter what they're going through, like as a teacher, not to be too hard on them and just have that grace with them,” Ramirez said.
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El Dorado TAFE students donate 162 Build-A-Bears event photos