SOC Makes our Afterschool Program Possible

By James Vanderberg, Executive Director, Welcome Inn Community Centre

Since 2001, Student Open Circles has partnered with the Welcome Inn, coordinating dozens of volunteers each year for our Learning and Fun afterschool program. The work that we do to support the learning and social development of the children in our neighbourhood would not be possible without Student Open Circles.

For children living in poverty or adjusting to life in Canada, the Learning and Fun afterschool program is a place of belonging and an opportunity to grow academically and socially. Working in partnership with the staff at Bennetto and St. Lawrence elementary schools, we invite 50 children who would benefit from the one-on-one support of a mentor, coupled with social and recreational activities. The program is offered to children who are struggling either academically or socially, as identified by their teachers or guardians. Incorporated into the program are two educational components—one that addresses financial literacy and one that focuses on mental health and wellness.

As a not-for-profit organization, Student Open Circles empowers university students to provide leadership and participate in community service throughout the city. Welcome Inn is one of the organizations that receives volunteers, and we are not alone. Over 20 teams of students provide local organizations, like the YMCA, Compass Community Health, and Mission Services, with over 10,000 hours of community service annually. For us, the students who volunteer through Student Open Circles mentor every one of the children that register with our Learning and Fun program.

The vibrancy of our afterschool program would not be the same without the SOC volunteers. They are energetic, enthusiastic and committed to the growth and development of the children. They consistently give of their time and facilitate debriefing sessions at the end of every session. It is their dedication and leadership that makes our program what it is, and we were thrilled to nominate them for the 2024 June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award.