Alisha Wainwright, a UF sophomore, said she is hoping to bring creative learning, fun and a break from curriculums geared toward FCAT to elementary school students in Gainesville.
Wainwright is president of Students Working For Educational Equality Today, known as S.W.E.E.T.
The new organization's constitution was approved Sunday by Student Senate's Judiciary Committee.
Student organizations are not official until their constitutions are approved.
S.W.E.E.T. is affiliated with Teach for America and intended to get undergraduate students involved with increasing awareness of educational inequality.
Wainwright said S.W.E.E.T. plans to start an after-school tutoring program in the spring.
Her experience working with children started as a counselor for Young At Art Children's Museum in Davie, Fla., where she learned how to bring a "fun, free aspect" to teaching.
"It's great to see the progression of kids who don't want to learn anything to then know names of art and give an upper-level analysis," she said.
Wainwright said she wants to offer students "confined to a desk learning FCAT" a little more.
Leah Dietterle, Teach For America campus campaign coordinator and S.W.E.E.T. external affairs chair, said she expects more organizations like S.W.E.E.T. will pop up at other universities.
"The needs of Gainesville schools are not unique to Gainesville," Dietterle said.
She said she hopes students from all majors will see they don't have to be education majors to make a difference in education.
"You see kids run around on dilapidated old playgrounds with overgrown weeds, and they deserve more than that," Dietterle said.
