In groups of four (4) people, students are asked to engage in a volunteer activity within their communities or near Humber. The expectation is that the volunteering engagement takes place on one day and lasts however long the task necessitates it (min. 3 hours). The experience is documented in pictures and a blog, and will be discussed in a round table format in class.
The intention is to create a hands-on sustainable learning experience that can be included in many VolunTourism itineraries in destinations around the world. We feel that instead of writing a lengthy report about such an experience, out-of-classroom learning would be much more impactful, satisfy the assignment criteria and involve a lot less time spent on writing and editing.
Students can choose the type of engagement together with their group mates. The expectation is that the volunteering is done as a group of four on the same day (not individuals, not in pairs). The experience can be anything from assisting at the Food Bank, serving lunch to the homeless at St. Francis Table (or similar venues) or cleaning up garbage in parks, etc.
Students are asked to make arrangements with your organization or venue of choice and make an appointment for your group. It is up to each group to select an organization. The professor can make suggestion, but making the arrangements is up to each group. It is vital that each group does so immediately.
The idea is that students simply serve. This is not a research project, there will therefore be a stern discussion prior to making such arrangements that students are not to ask volunteers or employees any pre-planned, personal questions about their involvement that would exceed the nature of a casual conversation. Such information is also not required for the assembly of the blogs.
The next page features some of the student work. All images, work and blog links are posted with permission of each group. Please obtain the required password from me if you are interested in viewing this work.