Our Stories

Join Student Open Circle in Creating CommUNITY by supporting our crowdfunding campaign. Help us raise $12,000 to support students spiritually, in their personal and leadership growth, and in service to ...

As the campus buzzes with the energy of first year students, many are also struggling, nervous, scared, and unsure of themselves. Perhaps you’ve observed this in the young people you ...

by Emma, Open Circle student Having taken two years between graduating high school and entering university, and having just exited the lockdown, I could tell there was something missing from ...

by Mariam, student volunteer I started university as a reserved and introverted person, especially coming out of the pandemic, and volunteering with Student Open Circles has really helped me come ...

by Elizabeth Li, Open Circle student Throughout my undergrad and master’s degrees, Open Circle has been one of the most impactful communities I have been a part of. To me ...

Give a gift that changes lives. Our unique charity gifts are perfect as a special gift for loved ones. Ideal for ‘someone who has everything,’ those hard-to-buy-for friends and loved ...

We received a surprising call from the Government of Ontario this spring to tell us that Student Open Circles won a provincial award. We are grateful to the Welcome Inn Community Centre staff who, without our knowledge, went to extraordinary lengths to nominate SOC.

By Jessica Pettigrew, parent of children in the LAF Afterschool program. I am a parent of three children who attend the LAF program at the Welcome Inn. My children have built strong and engaging relationships with the Student Open Circles volunteers year after year.

By Annie Jia, Open Circle student The LAF afterschool program is my favourite SOC volunteer group so far. It is the highlight of my weeks. It brought me back to my childhood, since I can relate to a lot of the youth. I grew up in a similarly disadvantaged area, Toronto Jane & Finch with a highly unstable home.

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 ...