UNews - YWCA

Global Citizenship Cohort demonstrates diverse interests

caroline.zentner — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 19:38:31 +0000

Students in this year’s Arts and Science Global Citizenship Cohort stepped up to help out. Their projects included everything from volunteering at the Soup Kitchen to getting involved in the Oldman Watershed Council (OWC) and signing a water charter.

“The theme for the Cohort was water, sustainability and social justice,” says Dr. Shelly Wismath, co-ordinator for the Global Citizenship Program and instructor for the Cohort’s seminar course, Lib Ed 2150. “They got to pick their project for the course. We had some environmental science majors who were keen on water issues. Others in the humanities and social sciences were really interested in social justice issues. They all got really got engaged and they bonded, too. One of the main goals of the cohort was to provide first-year students with this built-in support group from day one.”

One group created rain barrels for the Campus Roots Community Garden and another worked with the YWCA on an event called Attire to Inspire, which provides grad dresses to women who can’t afford the cost of a new dress. They also volunteered at the Lethbridge Soup Kitchen, preparing and serving food.

As part of their class project, Adebowale (Debo) Adeneye, at left, and Paris Ellis talked about volunteering with Attire to Inspire. The YWCA program provides grad dresses to high school girls without an outfit for their big day.

Paris Ellis and her group were inspired by a speaker from the OWC. They met with the OWC, signed the Southern Alberta Water Charter 2017 and volunteered to survey the state of the Oldman River near Taber and take water samples to be tested for bacteria and pesticides. Ellis says the Cohort and project helped students connect.

“I definitely think it brought a lot of us together. The friends that I did my project with, four of us have the same major and we all have pretty much the same classes. It was nice because you could walk into class and know people,” says Ellis. “It was a lot of fun.”

Another group wanted to reduce the number of plastic water bottles being bought. Their project involved getting a water dispenser for refillable bottles in ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall. They raised enough funds to buy the dispenser, which should be installed in Section C on the 6th floor stairwell sometime this summer.

Other student projects involved: calculating a water footprint; conducting a food audit comparing the cost and nutrition of food bought at Urban Market and at a grocery store; volunteering at an assisted-living facility; and volunteering with the Lethbridge Therapeutic Riding Association. Some students elected to write papers or create posters and they tackled subjects like social issues facing Aboriginal people in Canada and the threat of further development in the Jumbo Valley near Invermere.

For his project, Andrew Buckman delved into the reasons why people give to charities and how some charities operate.

“A lot of people are doing it just for show and they don’t have a practical way of accomplishing things. They want to make a difference but they don’t really know how to do it,” he says. “Others just add titles behind their names by joining a lot of things but it’s impossible to really be involved in everything.”

Volunteer Fair celebrates community spirit

trevor.kenney — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:52:45 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union (ULSU) is hosting its annual Volunteer Fair today, inviting a number of local organizations to campus in an effort to show students the many ways in which they can impact their community.

The Fair runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall Atrium and showcases a number of not-for-profit organizations from around the region.

"Volunteering gives students an alternative, and very meaningful, way of getting involved in their community," says Taz Kassam, ULSU president. "Volunteering is important for those receiving the help, but also for those who are participating in various volunteering acts."

The Volunteer Fair is hosting some 20 different organizations, ranging from Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Canadian Cancer Society, the YWCA and Canadian Blood Services to various campus clubs such as the Rotaract Club and the Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship.

"The importance of volunteering is something that should be instilled within our institution," says Kassam. "Volunteers, for example, teach children to read; act as mentors to young people; help feed the old and sick; help build wells for communities so everyone can access clean drinking water; help maintain peace and democracy; lend a hand to a survivor of conflicts and wars; help assist with long term development projects and preserve the environment, among many other things."

For a look at how the Students' Union has been involved in volunteering, check out this story.

LPIRG presents Green film screening

trevor.kenney — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:05:11 +0000

The Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group (LPIRG), supported by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, is presenting a free film screening of Green, Wednesday, Aug. 25, 7 p.m. at the Lethbridge Public Library.

Green is a female orangutan, and is a victim of deforestation and resource exploitation. This film is an emotional journey with Green's final days. It is a visual ride presenting the treasures of rainforest biodiversity and the devastating impacts of logging and land clearing for palm oil plantations.

"Every aspect of Orang Rimba life is tied to the forest," says Mangku Baseman, Orang Rimba Elder. "All our culture, how we find our food, all the wealth that we have. That is why I am happy to be Orang Rimba. When I see my forest being destroyed it makes me weep."

Green highlights the effects of deforestation on Indigenous people and endangered animals in Indonesia's rainforests.

The YWCA and the Rainforest Action Network are also co-presenters of this film.

Follow this link to LPIRG's facebook event page.

UNews - YWCA

Global Citizenship Cohort demonstrates diverse interests

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Volunteer Fair celebrates community spirit

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LPIRG presents Green film screening

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