COVID-19 has disrupted many facets of our lives. This has only served to deepened Big Sister Boston’s commitment to providing consistent engagement and support to all our Little Sisters, including those waiting to be matched with a Big Sister. One way we have been able to continue this support virtually is through Big for a Day, in which we host free monthly activities for girls on our wait list.
Girls who participate in Big for a Day are matched with a woman volunteer for that day’s event that is led by our staff and takes place alongside other Big for a Day Little Sisters and Big Sisters. Past Big for a Day activities have included trips to the Aquarium, service projects on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, and learning new moves at dance studios across Boston.
The pandemic has shone a spotlight on the isolation of girls and its negative effects, making opportunities for emotional connection crucial to their healthy development. It has also changed the way we offer activities to our Big and Little Sisters and helped us form new partnerships with companies like Teambuilding.com who provide virtual experiences. On a recent Saturday, Big for a Day volunteers and Little Sisters joined together for an International Monster Hunt that involved answering trivia, solving puzzles to earn clues, and discovering the hiding places of monsters around the world. Our hosts, Chris and Ayana, kept everyone on their toes and brought tons of energy. By using break out rooms, polls, and Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-style presentations, the Big and Little Sisters achieved their goal of discovering a new monster as a team!
The virtual activity energized the group and made for a fun-filled day of teambuilding among the women and girls. Most importantly, our Little Sisters who are waiting to be matched left with a feeling of accomplishment and connectedness.
