Brooke Ryan shares her experience as a Children’s Trust intern during her junior year at the University of South Carolina.
Coming into my position as a Children’s Trust intern, I didn’t know exactly what to expect. I had been supporting child abuse prevention as a member of Kappa Delta Sorority for years through various fundraisers, so I was excited to dive into the specifics.
I’ve always sought involvement beyond academics in both high school and college. In high school, I played volleyball and was involved in just about every club I knew of. These habits transferred over when I came to the University of South Carolina from Atlanta, my hometown.
I started by joining Kappa Delta where I found my very best friends and roommates, followed by clubs and intramurals. But despite all of this activity, a piece still felt missing.
When fellow KD Emilyn Ropp made an announcement at the chapter that her position as a Children’s Trust Lipscomb Assistant, the internship’s official title, was coming to an end, it quickly sparked my attention and I wasted no time applying. This was my missing piece.
I’ve learned so much about myself and about how to prevent child abuse and neglect. Here are four highlights.
1. There are many misconceptions about prevention
Before beginning at Children’s Trust, I had a distorted perception of prevention. I associated child abuse prevention with teaching children to avoid strangers and reporting any inappropriate behavior from adults. While it is important to teach children about safety, child abuse prevention is much more than that. Unfortunately, child abuse can occur right in the comfort of our own homes. I now know that prevention efforts include educating parents, caregivers, and other adults on how to recognize and respond to signs of abuse, providing resources and support for families in need, and creating safe environments for children to grow and thrive. It is important to remember that preventing child abuse is a community effort that requires ongoing education and support for everyone involved.
One of my favorite projects I worked on was researching other marketing campaigns from Children’s Trust organizations around the country to find successful prevention messaging that could potentially be implemented into our current marketing strategy. Given that this was one of my first tasks, it amazed me to see how many resources were available across the United States just a search away. It showed me that people in the field are constantly trying to find clearer ways to communicate about prevention to the general public to raise awareness in hopes to clear up these common misconceptions.
2. Community-sorority partnerships make a difference
WATCH: This recap video revisits Shamrock Week 2023, the Kappa Delta’s annual fundraiser for Children’s Trust.
Working at Children’s Trust has allowed me to build a personal connection to my philanthropy and see the ‘behind the scenes’ of all of the hard work that goes into prevention. It has also been extremely gratifying to see the importance of the fundraising that Kappa Delta does and how impactful it is firsthand. Eighty percent of the money raised goes to Children’s Trust, while the other 20 percent goes to Prevent Child Abuse America, the national branch aimed at supporting families and preventing child abuse before it occurs.
In the past year alone, Kappa Delta has raised $60,854 for Children’s Trust between our letter campaign in December and our Shamrock Week in March. So KDs, next time you’re at a Chipotle percent night or buying earrings from a pop-up shop on Greene Street, know that your contribution really matters. Every cent counts. Every day we are working towards a better tomorrow for families in South Carolina. My fellow Lipscomb Assistant Faith and I captured all of the hard work that goes into Shamrock Week, our biggest fundraiser of the semester, in a recap video we created together. This video showcased the girls in action, while also giving a glimpse into how much fun this week really is. This project made me realize how unique my position is and made me very appreciative of the connection between these two organizations that I hold so dear to my heart.
3. Families in South Carolina need support
Being immersed in the nonprofit world, I have learned about the true needs of families. Resources, tools, and support can never be too abundant for the harsh reality that many families face every day. Understanding this and learning how to help support families in need has been a privilege. Initially, I sometimes found it challenging to see the degree of need in our local community, but this quickly changed after attending a University of South Carolina women’s basketball game with our community relations coordinator Brittany Crowley. We set up a table and talked with attendees about scParents.org, our online hub to find local resources and services across the state. The number of interested people who came by and left the table with a flier blew my mind.
By exploring the nonprofit world, I have gained a deeper understanding of the social issues that affect our community, while discovering opportunities to get involved and make a difference. The need is real. It’s right in front of us and all around us. Learning about nonprofits has been an enriching experience that has broadened my perspective on the world and inspired action for positive change.
4. Team support builds community
Earlier this year, Brooke Ryan, Faith James and Kenzie Russeau delivered Children’s Trust’s 2022 Annual Report to the state legislature.
Working on the communications team has taught me so much and given an unwavering sense of community. I have grown both personally and professionally, creating so many valuable relationships along the way. Working on marketing campaigns, social media content, and Child Abuse Prevention month implementation has helped me to feel like a true, valued member of the team.
Since Children’s Trust is an intermediary organization, working business-to-business with other organizations through various projects has allowed me to develop a sense of this business model that I will take with me through my professional career. Not only are my coworkers passionate about their work, but they sincerely care about me as a person. This has easily been the best internship, with even better people. I can now say with confidence, that being in the Children’s Trust community and working as a Lipscomb Assistant has been one of the most rewarding and eye-opening experiences of my life thus far.
I am forever grateful for the philanthropic partnership between Kappa Delta and Children’s Trust and the experience it has given me. I have found meaning in joining my two communities together and it has brought me a sense of fulfillment. Working with Children’s Trust has truly transformed my everyday life, as it has allowed me to witness the incredible value of my efforts firsthand. Through my involvement with this organization, I have had the privilege of making a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families in South Carolina.
This past year I have grown so much as a person, and I have found my missing piece. Together, we are building a stronger, safer and more nurturing environment for children and families throughout the state. I truly can’t wait to see what next year holds!
