Winston Churchill said, 鈥淵ou make a living by what you get.聽You make a life by what you give.鈥�
More than 40 non-profits and community agencies will be on campus this week, hoping to drive that point home with incoming students.聽The groups are exhibitors at the annual 麻豆传媒 Career Services Volunteer Fair being held at the Student Union Building on Tuesday, Sept. 15.
Denise Williams is marketing and communications officer with the Career Services Centre.聽 She says the fair has been steadily growing over the years, drawing in more than 500 students in 2008.聽 Her goal is to increase that number for 2009, particularly among first year undergrads.聽
鈥淭he volunteer fair is very beneficial to students鈥� career and skill development,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t gives some great opportunities for people who don鈥檛 have a lot of work experience."聽She thinks the personal contacts made at the fair provide a chance for students and non-profits to find out if a contemplated volunteer relationship is a good fit.聽
Thomas Guthro would agree. He鈥檚 the director of development and communications with Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank, one of the exhibitors at the event. He likes the face-to-face aspect of the fair because it lets his organization 鈥済et a sense of each person鈥檚 interests.鈥�
He notes, 鈥淛ust because someone has, say, an accounting background doesn鈥檛 mean they want to use those skills as a volunteer.鈥� Conversely, some students enjoy using their educational skills when volunteering. MBA and Public Relations students from other schools have worked together in the past to develop business and marketing plans for various Parker Street enterprises.聽
Dal student Tiam Feridooni is a good example of both approaches. As a full-time student hoping to be admitted to med school, he has volunteered in his chosen field by working with patients at a local hospital. He has also volunteered his artistic skills to produce posters and cards for a mental health agency.聽
The Nova Scotia Nature Trust, another exhibitor, values such diversity and flexibility.聽 Volunteer Coordinator Nicole Arsenault says both attributes are often found in students. 鈥淒al has students from all over the world. Volunteering is a great way to connect with Nova Scotia communities.鈥澛� Her agency鈥檚 volunteers can expect a diverse range of volunteer opportunities鈥攊n the office or in the field, working in conservation areas around the province.
Allison Rushton, career events coordinator with the Career Services Centre, sees other good reasons for volunteering. The former Dal student, now a full-time Dal employee, currently volunteers with Feed Nova Scotia. She thinks that our current economic uncertainty can give us some insight into the everyday hardships of others. 鈥淭here is so much opportunity to get involved in Halifax鈥攖here is so much that needs to be done鈥�, she says.聽
Student Tiam Feridooni says volunteering for him is about giving back to the community.聽 鈥淚t聽 makes me feel like I鈥檝e done something positive.聽 I do it because it鈥檚 a good thing to do."
The volunteer fair is being held Tuesday, Sept.15, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the SUB McInnes Room, second floor.
Dal鈥檚 chapter of Best Buddies seeks student volunteers
Sarah MacPhee says it鈥檚 both a delight and a responsibility to have someone look forward to your visits so much. As a volunteer with the 麻豆传媒 chapter of Best Buddies, Ms. MacPhee has known her buddy, Trevor Hodge, for the past year. She describes him as a sports lover and an athlete who holds down a job at Tim Hortons and lives in Halifax鈥檚 north-end. 鈥淗e really looks forward to our time together,鈥� says Ms. MacPhee, a four-year student in microbiology and immunology. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a break from his routine鈥攈is life is so scheduled between work and home that the chance to get out is so exciting.鈥� Best Buddies is a program that pairs a person with an intellectual disability with a 麻豆传媒 student volunteer. Mostly, the friends hang out with each other鈥攖hey meet up for coffee or go to the movies鈥攂ut they also attend organized events, such as a bowling night or a party at the Grawood. With many of its volunteers having graduated in the spring, Best Buddies is recruiting new volunteers who can extend a hand in friendship. 鈥淚f we had more people, we could reach out to more people that could really benefit from the program,鈥� says Kyle Phipps, a PhD student in biochemistry and a Best Buddies volunteer for the past four years. He describes his buddy, Stephen Burke, as an extrovert who likes to dance and is an avid fan of Trailer Park Boys. 鈥淚t鈥檚 such a positive experience,鈥� says Mr. Phipps, from Miramichi, N.B. 鈥淵ou walk away kinda all warm and fuzzy. And it鈥檚 a simple thing, a few hours a week for you, but your buddy鈥檚 going to be talking about it for days afterwards.鈥� Founded in the U.S. in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver (of the Kennedy clan), the Best Buddies program in Canada has grown to more than 175 Best Buddies chapters at high schools and universities. To get involved with Best Buddies, e-mail buddies@dal.ca or call Kyle at 209-6020.聽 |
