I believe high school is an important time for adolescents and when I look back on my high school years I do so fondly. I am grateful for the opportunities I was provided and the experiences I had, which were available because of my teachers and my school.
One of the opportunities I had in high school was working with Toronto Police Services through their Empowered Student Partnership program*. This program is focused around students making change and addressing the issues in their school and community in partnership with Toronto Police Services. I was fortunate enough to develop a strong relationship with our Community Police Officer, and attend Toronto wide events. I, as part of a student group, was able to discuss real concerns and issues that were facing the youth in our school and neighbourhood. This experience was very unique and extremely influential to me. It taught me that there is value in partnerships and collaboration. I was part of a student group who worked together with a community organization to promote change. I first hand developed an appreciation for collaboration in order to promote change! I believe that collaboration is an important factor when it comes to creating change in our communities and global world. When we work together we can achieve much more, and as my experiences continued into university I grew an even greater appreciation for community collaboration! Stay tuned to hear more about those experiences! *If you would like to check out more about the Empowered Student Partnership program please visit the Toronto Police Services webpage. www.torontopolice.on.ca/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=329
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I was fortunate enough to be enrolled with Girl Guides of Canada when I was about 5 years old, and continued with their programming until I was about 15. For those that don't know much about Girl Guides, it is an organization that provides unique opportunities to Girls from ages 5 -17. There are a variety of opportunities that are provided to girls who participate in the variety of the programming which may include unique trips, overnight camping experiences, and community involvement. You can find out more by going to their website. https://www.girlguides.ca/web/www.girlguides.ca/web/ I have a lot of very strong memories from my time as a Girl Guide, and there is on in particular I would like to share with you. I remember being exposed to a variety of community organizations, one evening we had a presentation from CNIB, The Canadian National Institute for the Blind. As part of the presentation we learned how the braille system works, and had the opportunity to write our name in braille. We were also walked through a variety of activities that developed our empathy, and acceptance towards those with low vision or a lack of vision abilities. As an extension our Girl Guide leaders had us complete other empathy activities, geared towards physical disabilities. Through the organization's presentation and a variety of activities we developed patience and acceptance for those around us who may not be able to do things the same way that we do. It was my first memorable experience in diversity, differentiation, and acceptance! Although I am not currently involved with Girl Guides of Canada I am grateful for the vast range of experiences I had as a young girl, and was fortunate enough to volunteer as a Brownie leader a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed being a part of that community again. A great organization if you are looking to volunteer, or looking to provide opportunities to the young girls in your life! My passion and experience in the volunteer sector began as a young child. I have great parents who were always involved in the community and volunteered a lot of their time. One of the first events I remember volunteering in was a "Christmas Caravan", every December our neighbourhood hosts the event to collect nonperishable food items and gently used clothing and toys. Volunteers from the community walk door to door and collect donations. It has become a big annual event complete with a Santa Clause, Mounted Police, Firetrucks playing holiday music, and a community BBQ. Every year the Christmas Caravan collects approximately 15 000 tonnes of food, $1000 in cash donations, and a truckload of clothing and toys. These donations are then redistributed throughout the Toronto area.
I cannot remember my first caravan, but I can remember many that I have participated in over the years, and the variety of roles that I have had the opportunity to serve as a volunteer. One of the most memorable years was when I was in high school, and the caravan day happened to be the day after the largest snow storm of that winter so far. There was about a foot of snow that we were travelling through, the roads had not been fully plowed, and even the police cars were getting stuck! I remember walking door to door and collecting all sorts of donations for local organizations and communities. As volunteers we all took breaks as we needed them to stay warm, and were met with hot chocolate at all of our rest stops in attempts of staying warm. It was definitely a year to remember! This year will mark the 50th anniversary of the Christmas Caravan, and I will be participating once again. My father was the one who really got my involved in the community event, he was a scout leader in the neighbourhood and volunteered in the neighbourhood with great pride, and encouraged his scout's and their families to participate in the Christmas Caravan as well. What I learned from this is that being a role model is extremely important. The skills that young children develop and the opportunities they participate in are driven by the adults in their life. If we actively volunteer and give of our time to support communities and organizations than we demonstrate that volunteering is valuable. That it is worth giving our time to assist others. This is something that I believe my father modelled for me, and a philosophy that live by and I hope that throughout this blog I can share more of my volunteer experiences, how they have shaped who I am and my personal values, as well as the opportunities I have been provided because of my passion and commitment to volunteering. |
AuthorI, Hilary Browne, am an Occasional Teacher with the Toronto District School Board. I have a passion for engaging with the community and teaching my students through positive community engagement experiences. ArchivesCategories |