Interviewed by Ellie S.
Let’s hear from Origami for Good NYC, a youth led 501(c)(3) non-profit chapter of Origami For Good. Today we are joined by co-presidents Vanah D. and Ryan C!
What is the primary mission of the club?
We aim to improve community mental health through engaging events that unite the community or simple origami donations to patients/residents to show that they are not forgotten.
How many members do you have, and what is the typical “vibe” of a meeting?
We have 7 executives: Vanah D., Ryan C, Iassan C, Shifa S, Liancin J, Camilla Q, and Katerina S. We all run an internship program in which we split ~40 interns into 4 branches: graphic design, outreach, event initiative, and marketing. Each branch is assigned a weekly assignment to push OFGNYC forward as an organization!
For a typical event, we do anything from simply teaching origami to organizing community giveaways like our most recent “Plant w/ OFGNYC” event. We find creative ways to incorporate the art of origami into making a tangible impact in our community. Our amazing OFGNYC community makes every event fun and lively!
What specific branches of science do you focus on (e.g., Biology, Robotics, Environmental Science)?
OFGNYC is dedicated to environmental education and mental health. We always make sure to buy biodegradable products for our events when possible and we have earned a $350 grant to aid us in our environmental goals! In the future, we plan on hosting more environmental awareness events and also providing food to areas suffering from a food desert. We also acknowledge the scientific benefits of origami as it is proven that it improves your heart rate, decreases the likelihood of getting Alzheimer’s, and promotes brain stimulation. Overall, we deeply care about the health of our surroundings and our community.
What is the most ambitious project the club has tackled this year?
As of now, our most ambitious project was the “Plant w/ OFGNYC” event as it was our most costly. However, we have a more ambitious event planned for the last week of July! We are planning to collect supplies in the meantime (household supplies, non-perishable foods, etc) to create care packages with origami inside to host events in areas suffering from a food desert. We want to make sure everyone in this community has access to good food and household supplies!
What has been the club’s proudest moment in the last 12 months?
Though we have achieved many great things the past year, one moment that we as an organization are especially proud of is the summer internship program, which amplifies our cause and all the initiatives we have taken throughout the past months. This program is proof to us that people trust in origami as a way to make a long term significant impact in our city and beyond, as the interns who have been accepted into our program made a commitment to help out in any way they can. As a result, OFGNYC has expanded even more in reach, thanks to the hours put in by the interns who have been a core part of our team. More events have been done, and our impact has increased exponentially. This program is a part of our organization that we believe holds significant value, reinforcing the fact that we as the youth can make change, even through something as simple as origami.
How does the club contribute to the local or the border community?
Origami For Good NYC contributes to the community, local or broad, in quite a unique way. To put it simply, our efforts bring the community together and allows for numerous individuals to feel valued and recognized. This is all because of our incorporation of origami into our initiatives, as we teach people origami techniques and send them out to hospitalized children, senior residents, veterans, and more. Our efforts have expanded to not only our local communities, but across the entire city as well. With origami, we can become a driving force in promoting communal health and other issues that stay growing in the city that never sleeps, which is a concept that we value deeply.
What are the long-term goals for the club?
We have made significant progress as an organization, but in the long-term, our goals are to expand in a much more solidified way to various parts of the 5 boroughs. We are connected with volunteers and organizations all across the city, but if we were to expand this reach further, our initiatives with origami and mental health will propel to a point where OFGNYC is able to make an extremely significant impact. Especially with the upcoming school year, we will be sure to expand our values and work to the schools we are in and more, as New York City is such a big city and anyone trying to make an impact can do it here.
Anything else you would like to say to ecolyst.org readers?
If there is an issue in your city or even neighborhood that you feel NEEDS to be addressed, whether it be environmental action or wellbeing, you can definitely do it if you put your mind to it. There are numerous individuals, young and adult alike, who have the potential to make change but decide not to take that first step. However, trust the fact that once you do take that first step, the staircase is long but in sight.
