Independent schools in Ontario are going beyond the required 40 volunteer hours and using community engagement to help students develop life skills, empathy, and meaningful connections. Programs like Pickering College’s SPARC initiative encourage students to work on projects that create real change and learn valuable skills.

Every Wednesday, students from Pickering College participate in connection projects based on their interests as they work alongside community organizations and leaders. The SPARC initiative helps students develop essential skills, build empathy, and drive positive change in the community. A group of students recently collaborated with a service dog training organization, improving materials while learning 3D printing, graphic design, and client communication. These projects create a win-win situation, benefiting both students and the organizations they support.

Blyth Academy students are supporting local community festivals, the local food bank, the Red Door Family Shelter, and the Chartwell Grenadier Retirement Residence for seniors. In Mississauga, the students volunteer at The Compass Food Bank, plant trees, and fundraise for causes like the Terry Fox Foundation and Doctors Without Borders. The on-ground experiences help them better understand global and local issues while strengthening their academic learning.

Students at Branksome Hall, an all-girls school in Toronto, are building meaningful, long-term community partnerships through volunteer work. Students engage in tutoring, virtual homework clubs, and donation drives, such as supporting Period Purse in the fight against period poverty. The school is helping students connect with the world beyond their school, fostering a sense of responsibility and the ability to create lasting change.

Source: Toronto Star