This summer, we had the honor of welcoming back Mikiale Weldermariam to our HungerCorps cohort. Mikiale oversaw our Meadowbrook and Jackson Park meal sites, and was much-beloved by every kid he worked with. Originally from Eritrea, Mikiale is now an accounting student at Seattle Central College. We sat down for the following interview:

Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

A: I come from a big family. Not a lot of people know this, but I have seven siblings. I like to play sports like soccer and ultimate frisbee. I recently found out that I really enjoy paddleboarding after the Sail Venture last Thursday.

Q: How did you hear about HIP and the Summer Eats program?

A: Before quarantine, around 2017-2018, I used to go to Jane Addams Middle School. I lived in Meadowbrook Apartments, which was one of the sites I worked at this year. Around 2021, during quarantine, one of my neighbors started volunteering at HIP and I came along to translate for him. When last summer rolled around, I needed a job, and the places I applied told me I needed more experience. I reached out to HIP through Meadowbrook’s office and applied for the Summer Meals HungerCorps position. I enjoyed last summer a lot, meeting new people and becoming close friends within a month at the sites and on the team.

Q: Mikiale , this is your second summer with us, what made you decide to come back for a second year? What was the biggest change you saw in the second year?

A: When you do a job, you don’t always enjoy the work, but at HIP I really enjoy the job because I get to give back to the community. I also get to work with kids I’ve never met before and become really close over the summer, like siblings. Last summer, I found out I was really good at working with kids. I kinda missed them, too, they were cool, so I decided to apply for another year. When I started the second year, I met a lot of new coworkers and we became good friends very quickly. We went to Golden Garden Beach, went out to eat–you don’t usually hang out with your coworkers, but they were cool. Sophie, Briyan, Charlotte, and Louise also came back and I was happy to see them again. 

Q: You talked about how you were great at working with the kids–to me that feels like an understatement. I went to all of the sites, I shadowed everyone’s routes, and the kids like all of the HungerCorps folks. But when I went on your route, the kids were trying to stow away in your van, they helped you set up, and they complained when you weren’t there. These kids love you on an unprecedented level, why do you think that is?

A: I don’t know if you heard, but [my coworker] Sophie said “you act like you’re twelve years old with them.” I think I got close to them by acting like them. Whenever I had to say “no” I wouldn’t end with that, I would say “let’s do that thing you were talking about last time instead.” I remember the things they like so I can redirect their attention. One of my favorite redirects is “tag that kid and run away,” because who doesn’t like to run? I just act like them, I guess. 

Q: What was your favorite part about working with the kids this year?

A: My favorite part was meeting the new kids and spending time with the kids I met last year. I really enjoyed running around with them and playing with whatever was in front of us. 

Q: What advice would you give to someone doing HungerCorps next year?

A: The kids are very comfortable with us, but it takes them about a week or two to get completely comfortable with someone. So be comfortable and open with the kids, because if you really quiet yourself, they won’t feel comfortable speaking with you. Some kids will just come up to the table and just stand quietly, that’s a sign that they want to talk or play with you. Reach out to them first, they’re probably just quiet or nervous. There should always be one person taking care of the meals and the counts and another person playing with or hanging out with the kids. Once the kids feel comfortable, that’s where the fun starts.

Q: What is next for you?

A: I’m going back to school in the fall. Next summer, my mother and I are thinking about going back home to either Ethiopia or Eritrea, but if we aren’t able to, there’s an Eritrean soccer tournament happening next year in Seattle that I am excited about.