As a nine-year-old, I became committed to ‘doing good’ through my involvement with Little Women for Little Women in Afghanistan, a non-profit organization that helps girls in Afghanistan receive an education. Since then, activism has been a prevalent part of my life. When it came to choosing my university major,[Read More…]
Tag: volunteer
Addressing homelessness, one student at a time
Homelessness is a growing problem in Montreal, with more than half of Quebec’s homeless population living within the city’s limits. It is estimated that over 3,100 individuals are in need of shelter, food, and warm clothing. This does not account for the hidden homeless—those who are temporarily staying with family,[Read More…]
Prologue or epilogue: What’s next for the McGill Book Fair
Undeterred by a recent history rife with alternating closures and revivals, the McGill Book Fair opened its doors again for a three-day sale Oct. 29 – 31. Nearing its 50th anniversary, the fair sells tens of thousands of gently used books—ranging in genre from biographies to romance novels—along with an[Read More…]
Bridging the gap: fostering a partnership between Walksafe and Service d’accueil
Following the cancellation of transportation services due to cuts in school board funding in September 2016, McGill Walksafe partnered with Service d’accueil du Centre Multi-Ethnique St-Louis, a daycare linked with FACE elementary school. Although the children were previously able to take busses from the Service d’accueil daycare to the Recreation[Read More…]
MealCare reduces food waste and food insecurity
One in six children in Canada are food insecure, yet, per capita, Canadians waste 183 kilograms of food annually. The gap between those who have access to more food than they can eat and those who have limited access to any food at all is wide. MealCare, an initiative led[Read More…]
Kahnawake Tutoring Program enters fourth year
The Ronteweiénstha Tehontatia'takéhnhen tutoring and separate mentorship programs at the Kahnawake Survival School (KSS), both run by the Social Equity and Diversity Education (SEDE) Office at McGill, held their first sessions of the year on Oct. 5 and Oct. 17 respectively. KSS is a community-run middle and high school serving[Read More…]
The hidden harm of voluntourism
While the idea of going abroad to help impoverished communities is commendable, volunteering abroad has several negative consequences that directly oppose the humanitarian intentions behind these trips. Many agencies that offer volunteer opportunities abroad sell the idea of ‘contributing to a community,’ whether by helping to build wells, schools, or[Read More…]
Third annual Community Engagement Day encourages students to get involved
Last Thursday, the Social Equity and Diversity Education Office (SEDE) held its third annual Community Engagement Day (CED). Around 45 organizations with 54 projects were present at the event, which drew about 550 attendees. According to Lina Martin-Chan, CED’s communications coordinator, the event aims to bridge the community-campus divide and[Read More…]
