Real-World Learning, Real-World Impact: SHIFT interns' journeys in community-based learning

1. Finding roots in the city

Originally from Ottawa, Hamda had always been engaged in social justice work. But after moving to Montreal to pursue a degree in Film Studies, she was unfamiliar with the local community sector and lost touch with that part of her life. “Had I not found this position, would I have even known about this?” she wondered. 

How often do you get to witness change up close? It’s really rare

Her work with Community Healing Days – a collective that offers traditional therapies at low cost – left her feeling more integrated with the local community in Montreal. “Healthcare in Quebec has a lot of unmet needs,” she said. “Especially for immigrants, low-income individuals, or people with disabilities. Community Healing Days helps fill that gap.” Seeing people return each month and share positive feedback reaffirmed the impact of her work. “I see how this helps a community that often gets overlooked,” she said. 

Beyond professional experience, the internship gave her a renewed sense of hope. “I’d be in a much darker place without this work,” she shared. “It’s brightened my world in a really good way.” 

2. Community care as a core value

Jon Marvin, a Community, Public Affairs, and Policy Studies (SCPA) student, moved to Montreal from the Philippines as a teenager. Like many newcomers, his story here started with struggling to find community, particularly as a queer, immigrant youth.

I feel seen. Not just for my accomplishments, but also for my weaknesses

That changed when he began his SHIFT internship at Centre Kapwa, a nonprofit dedicated to decolonizing Filipinx-Canadian diaspora mental health through art, movement, and conversation. The organization also emphasizes intergenerational connection, which Jon Marvin found invaluable. “The co-founders are young professionals, young mothers,” he said. “I’m really thankful for my community ates (elder sisters in Tagalog) and the mentorship they’ve given me along the way.”

As he completes his internship, Jon Marvin looks forward to mentoring future queer, Filipino youth, carrying forward what he has received. “Take care of community,” he reflected, “because in the end, community will take care of you.”

3. Seizing opportunities for impact

As an intern at the Black Healing Centre (BHC), Akinyi (Creative Arts Therapy M.A.) helped coordinate intergenerational programming that reimagines healing through a community-centered and artistic lens.

Her internship helped her to see the opportunity within the community sector to have a significant impact, even as a student intern. She recalled pitching a workshop idea that BHC not only embraced but helped bring to life. “It was incredible,” she said. “My ideas didn’t have to sit in a notebook—they could become real. I’m living in my dream right now.”

She also came to a better understanding of the broader collaborative landscape of community work. “I noticed that other organizations provided similar services as BHC, but instead of competing, they collaborated. There are enough people who need mental health support—there's room for all of us.”  

4. Bridging theory with practice

Sarah interned at LI-BER-T House, an organization that provides housing and support services for women transitioning out of addiction treatment programs. As a Community, Public Affairs, and Policy Studies student, she found that her experience in the field profoundly enriched her academic learning.

She also appreciated how the internship helped her bring real-world examples into her studies. “When a professor discusses an issue, I find myself thinking about how it applies to LI-BER-T House,” she said. “It’s made my coursework more meaningful.”

In class, we discuss theories. But putting theory into practice is different. Some things just don't work the way they do in a textbook.

The experience also strengthened her crisis management skills. “I’ve learned so much from Liane, the founder of LI-BER-T House,” Sarah said. “She’s an anchor during crises and a role model for everyone.” 

Sarah plans to continue working in community spaces and values the skills she’s developed. “I want to stay involved in social work,” she said. “Even beyond my career, the things I’ve learned here are skills for life.” 

5. Systems change takes time

A committed activist while growing up in Syria, Hany saw an opportunity to explore professional work in Canada while staying true to his activist roots. He describes how through his internship at Sex[M]ed, a Canadian nonprofit that combats sexual health inequities, the program’s workshops helped him to develop self-compassion and the perspective of a longer timescale for social justice work. “Sometimes you feel exhausted and want to stop,” he said. “But through SHIFT workshops, I learned to take things one step at a time, to be kinder to myself, and to stop feeling guilty for doing just a small part.” 

Having completed his internship, Hany is now pursuing a Master's degree in Human Systems Intervention at Concordia. Knowing that he is just, “one piece of a big puzzle,” he looks forward to engaging the expanded toolkit he is developing in his graduate studies to continue to support 2SLGBTQIA+ migrants. 

Through their SHIFT internships, students not only gain professional experience but also bring fresh insights back into their communities and academic spaces. They contribute to shaping the organizations they work with, while also being shaped in return. These reciprocal relationships strengthen SHIFT and the communities we engage with, making the internship program a continuous cycle of learning and impact.