MIKA employs a number of programs to help families in need in the local community. One of their most remarkable ways to influence the community is an after school program that meets five times a week to teach young children in Costa Mesa a variety of topics while their parents work. Our SIFE team had the pleasure of meeting with a group of these kids and we were pleasantly surprised at not only how receptive they were to learn from us, but also how we learned valuable lessons from them. I immediately got to know a group of young girls who were so excited and enthusiastic each of the two nights. Some of the girls did not even speak English, so one of the girls volunteered to translate for me. I was known as the “Hannah Montana” girl and the second night we met with them, the girls ran up to me embracing me with hugs. Playing with those girls and getting to know them was an impacting experience that I was not expecting at all. I learned about their families, their schools, their hobbies, their homes, and the things that excited them most in life. At the end of the second night, one of the young girls came up to me and asked if she could have my phone number so that she could stay in touch with me. She was sad that the night was over and wanted to hang out again.