Volunteer Open Day 2024 introduces young people to the individuals and groups making a difference in T&T
The responsibility of a university to its community is not simply to produce graduates with expertise in their field, but also to send students into the world with an understanding of the need to contribute to the society they are a part of. There are so many social issues that exist all around us, and many individuals and organisations have stepped up to solve at least some part of the problem. But figuring out where and how to help can be a daunting process.
The UWI, Volunteer Open Day is a yearly event hosted by the Careers, Co-Curricular and Community Engagement Department of the Division of Student Services and Development (DSSD). The event aims to assist students in exploring the many possible avenues for volunteering for causes championed by a range of NGOs and community-based organisations. It’s a way for students to learn more on the possibilities of helping to make a difference, and how to actively engage in working with their communities.
The event was first held in 2012, as part of the DSSD’s mandate to support civic responsibility and rounded development of students. The Careers, Co-Curricular and Community Engagement Department, headed by Manager Kathy-Ann Lewis, aims to foster student learning “outside of the traditional classroom”, with a focus on giving them the tools they need to be prepared for life after university. While career advice and co-curricular activities are also an important part of their role, the community engagement aspect of the department is a service not just for the students but also for their wider community.
The theme for the Volunteer Open Day 2024 was “Sow, Serve and Flourish Together”, and was held on the St Augustine campus on March 14. Volunteer organisations set up booths on the Learning Resource Centre Greens, and under the shade of trees and tents, both the students and staff were able to find out about each organisation and the causes that they represent – including education, the environment and healthcare. Present at the booths were organisations like the Cotton Tree Foundation, which provides literacy and other educational programmes targeted towards youth; Vision on Mission, which provides rehabilitation, reintegration and resettlement services to vulnerable communities; and Rennie’s Orphanage and Animal Rescue (ROAR), a wildlife NGO which focuses on animal rehabilitation and environmental advocacy.
Fittingly, as the theme spoke to sowing, serving and flourishing, attendees were presented with seeds and seedlings to be planted and cared for. This was part of the event’s focus on highlighting the environment, and attendees were able to learn about how the NGOs present implemented sustainable practices in their work.
As we continue to see the ongoing effects of the global climate crisis, it is more important than ever that the upcoming cohort of university graduates understand the value of incorporating sustainability into whatever field they may enter, whether in their work or through volunteering. The Volunteer Open Day is just one of DSSD’s projects under the banner of ‘Community Engagement and Service Learning’, which aims to mould “active citizens, who are civically aware, morally grounded, and built on the spirit of reciprocity, through participation in various community development/advancement activities and projects.”
With first-hand experience on the issues facing our country and region, the aim of these projects is to foster an upcoming generation of citizens who can affect positive change to not just their communities, but the world. Students or staff interested in participating in one of their programmes can reach out the Careers, Co-Curricular and Community Engagement Department to learn more.
