Transcript Encouraging a Community of Citizen Leaders at the

Encouraging a Community
of Citizen Leaders at the
University of Guelph
A Showcase of our Programs
Guelph Serves!
Project Serve in September
 Project Serve Canada
 Ongoing Volunteer Experiences
 One-Time Volunteer Projects for Groups
 Adopt-A-Family
 iCAN website – www.ican.uoguelph.ca
 Get Involved! Newsletter
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Citizenship Education
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Citizenship Awareness Month in January
“I Care, I Vote” Campaign
“Be…” Series to promote Citizenship Awareness
Social Action Workshop Series (New in 2005/06)
Community Liaison for Student Groups and
Faculty
Education and Awareness Fact Sheets on Social
Issues
Workshops and Resources
Leadership Education
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Celebrating Leadership Week
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Leadership Education Workshop Series
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Workshops and Resources
Education and Reflection
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Learning in our programs happens in the
following ways:
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Personal Journals
Daily check in discussions
Small and large group discussions
Speakers and workshops from the campus and
community
Related readings and resources with discussion
Experienced senior student Team Leaders, who are
trained in facilitating reflection discussions and activities
Direct input and discussion with community agency
representatives
Project Serve
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Annual one-day volunteer event in September
Over 400 participants in teams of 6-12, with an
assigned and trained Team Leader, are bused to
over 25 community agency sites
Agency orientation on site
Return to campus for appreciation lunch,
reflection activities and discussion with Team
Leader, and information on continued
volunteering
Project Serve Mission
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To introduce students to community
service and, through it, affirm the value of
service to others – both locally and in the
world beyond our campus.
Project Serve Objectives
To accomplish our mission we operate by the following guiding
principles:
Project Serve must:
 Be a collaborative community project
 Be inclusive and accessible to all students
 Assist students in optimizing their learning and in making
connections to greater societal issues, particularly in the context
of their discipline
 Provide students with opportunities to reflect upon their personal
philosophy of citizenship that includes understanding of self,
others and community, as well as the acceptance of
responsibilities inherent in community membership
 Facilitate positive interaction between students, faculty, staff,
community volunteers and agency representatives
 Assist community-based organizations in promoting the benefits
of volunteerism
 Positively reinforce the value of contributions made and the
potential for future impact through community service
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Impact of Project Serve…
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“Project Serve provided us with the opportunity
to participate in community building with the
university and its students, and provided
advertising for our agency” – Agency
Representative
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“Project Serve shows the Guelph community that the
university is not an entity operating on its own, but rather,
a group of citizens who are willing to contribute to the
community in which they live and learn.” - Participant
“We engaged in an activity that we probably wouldn’t have
ventured into (garage sale) had it not been for Project
Serve. This sale ended up making almost $600 to benefit
clients” – Agency Representative
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“Project Serve is a wonderful
program that has mutual
benefits for the agency and for
the participants. Not only do
the participating students get to
put their knowledge into action,
but in doing so they are giving
to and learning about the
Guelph-Wellington community.
Thank you all.” – Agency
representative
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“The message that I took away
from all of the experiences was
that regardless of where your
interests may lie, a few hours of
your time can make a huge
difference.” - Participant
What agency representatives say
about Project Serve…
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“It is a great way to build community partnerships and raise
awareness of our programs and services”
“Our clients were able to see that members of their community
care about their home/program and are willing to donate their
time”
“[Students] completed large tasks that we wouldn’t have been
able to do; provided financial resources”
“Volunteers see youth of today deciding to get involved. Longer
tasks can get accomplished in a way shorter time period.
Awareness of who we are and what we offer as support.”
“The clients felt energized by the students’ enthusiasm. They were
grateful for the support the students offered. All in all it was a
wonderful coming together of a variety of individuals to complete
a common goal.”
“Our clients learned that there are good people out there who
want to and are willing to help them out for free. Our clients learn
things by watching others. We encourage volunteerism and so
they are more likely to want to do this, when they feel the good
effects of it.”
Project Serve Canada
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Each February, during the winter semester Reading Week
University of Guelph students connect with students from
other Canadian universities, and together significantly
serve in collaboratively designed four day volunteer
placements in one or more of our national communities.
Learning opportunities, education and reflection
components are integrated into the program to raise
awareness in the students on critical social issues and to
encourage the development of a lifelong sense of
responsible national citizenship in these young adults
Project Serve Canada Goals
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To provide significant service to non-profit organizations in Canadian
communities
To maximize learning opportunities for the involved students,
including raising awareness and understanding of critical social issues
and the role of citizens in working for change
To facilitate leadership knowledge and skill development, particularly
in the areas of team building, effective communicating, ethical
decision making, understanding diversity and visioning
To connect students with their peers in another Canadian community,
highlighting the diversity and commonalities of our nation, and
encouraging the development of a strong sense of national citizenship
To indicate important and meaningful connections for students
between their academic studies and society
To highlight the civic commitment of university students and their
potential positive impact on society today and in the future, through
meaningful connections between community members and student
participants
To encourage lifelong civic engagement in the young adult
participants, through the promotion of ongoing involvement in social
issues awareness, volunteerism, positive political activism and socially
responsible academic endeavors and career choices
Project Serve Canada Impact…
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“It was a life altering experience.”
“Nothing I can say will do it justice.”
“Broke many preconceptions”
“I learned to confront and change my own biases and
stereotypes.”
“Thanks for providing me with the highlight of my
University career!”
"I learned to look beyond people’s external circumstances
and see the humanity in everybody.”
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“I learned what
types of issues
there are, methods
of targeting them.
I learned that these
are real people that
I can connect with.
I learned that I can
make a difference
and that it does
matter.” –
Participant
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“I learned not only
about the
demographics and life
stories of vulnerable
populations, but also
lots about myself,
community, social
service agencies, and
the goodness of
humanity.” Participant
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“This experience made
me dig deep within
myself and question my
values and beliefs,
however, at the same
time has provided and
solidified my vision in
my life. It has shown
me how different
experiences are really a
tool that is required as a
student and a citizen of
Canada.” - Participant
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“It’s time for me to think
which path I want to take,
either to continue to live
that sheltered like or to go
out there and be a part of
something bigger” Participant
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“I learned that a small
group of people can do
great things. I was
amazed at the passion,
trust and enthusiasm this
group had” - Participant
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“I learned that it is so
important to be an active
member of one’s
community, and that the
contributions we make,
even though they may
seem small, make such a
difference in the lives of
others. I also learned that
we as university students
have a great responsibility
to be advocates for social
justice and that we cannot
just sit back and be idle
citizens” – Participant
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“I realized during this
service-learning
experience that I am
going to switch
programs, so that I am
dealing with issues that
are more important to
me. I have realized that
I want my academic
studies to better reflect
my core values and
beliefs” - Participant
Resources
www.studentlife.uoguelph.ca/citizenleader
 www.studentlife.uoguelph.ca/service
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Contact:
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Emilie Hayes, Experiential Education Specialist
University Centre, Level 3
University of Guelph
[email protected]
(519) 824-4120, ext. 52782
Questions?