Volunteer Spotlight: Meet CaraMia!

Meet CaraMia, one of our awesome volunteers in our one-to-one tutoring programs! CaraMia quickly proved to be an invaluable asset to these programs, as our students have grown so much with her guidance. Take, for example, our 2022 Ambassador, Danielle. CaraMia and Danielle have been working together in one-to-one literacy, where Danielle has progressed to a more advanced reading level and will be hosting a presentation for the GiGi’s NYC community about activism that she worked on during her tutoring sessions. Our participants and tutors do amazing things together! We are extremely thankful for CaraMia’s dedication to our community. Read below to learn more about her:

How and when did you first get involved with GiGi’s NYC? I first got involved in the fall of 2022 when I was looking online for volunteer opportunities.

Why did you decide to volunteer with GiGi’s NYC? I decided to volunteer after seeing all of the interesting things that go on at GiGi’s NYC on the website, speaking to the coordinators who were kind and welcoming from the first time I spoke with them and seeing that I was able to volunteer virtually. 

What does GiGi’s NYC mean to you? Although I’ve never been to a playhouse in person, GiGi’s NYC has given me an understanding community that accommodates my own disabilities and challenges while giving me the opportunity to volunteer, learn, have fun and be productive. 

What do you do as a volunteer? As a volunteer I tutor math and literacy virtually for about 2 hours a week. 

What is your favorite thing about the GiGi’s NYC community? My favorite thing is learning about the participants who I’m tutoring and getting to plan fun activities to do with them. 

How do you enjoy spending your free time? In my free time I like to sing, listen to music and spend time with friends. 

What have you learned as a volunteer? How have you been impacted by being a volunteer? I have learned a lot about the best ways to teach people with Down syndrome and how to adapt those lessons to the individual’s interests.