Paying it forward
Written by Derrick Eason, Jounalism student and intern for Concordia Communications Services, with photos by Concordia student Sophia Loffreda.
Between school, a part-time job and everything else a university student has going on, it isn’t easy to find time to give back to the community. Volunteer work often takes a back seat to other responsibilities.
On Saturday, however, I had the pleasure of discovering just how fulfilling volunteering one’s time for the benefit of others can be. I was among a group of about 40 volunteers from Concordia who were given the opportunity, through the LIVE Centre (Leadership, Initiative, Volunteer, Engagement), to help build a new playground for the children of the Tyndale Community Centre in Little Burgundy.
As the Concordia volunteers arrived and signed in, we were given aqua t-shirts and hats from the sponsor, Foresters, an insurance company that believes in the importance of giving back to the community. They work with a non-profit organization called KaBoom, which is dedicated to building playgrounds for children all across North America.
The volunteers then gathered around a stage and heard some motivational speeches from KaBoom representatives, the Director of the Tyndale Community Centre and the mayor of the South-West district of Montreal, Benoit Dorais.
But the speech that got everybody really motivated was one given by a resident of Little Burgundy who told everyone about the late Jessie Maxwell Smith, after whom the park will be named. Smith was a well-known and loved schoolteacher and volunteer, who was affectionately known as the town mother or grandmother. It is particularly appropriate that the park be named after her, as she was loved in her community because of her selfless dedication to giving back to Little Burgundy.
After the speeches, we moved into groups and were assigned tasks. My group was in charge of building benches for the new park. Although I was a bit disappointed that I wouldn’t be taking part in the construction of the actual playground, this task was perfect for me. My previous experience in carpentry allowed me to help my team push through and finish the benches on time. The fact that I was able to offer some of my skills to help lead a team made me feel as though I was a valuable member of the group and not just another body.
At the end of it all, I was tired, my hands hurt and my knees were sore from standing all day but I couldn’t think of a better way to have spent my Saturday. The lasting feelings of accomplishment and purpose far outweighed my temporary physical discomfort.
The atmosphere is what made the day unforgettable: the expression of joy on everyone’s face; the people of Little Burgundy exemplifying the true meaning of the word “community;” and the eclectic mix of Michael Jackson, Bob Marley and AC/DC blasting through the speakers set up throughout the park. Despite working hard for a full day, there was not a word of a complaint from any of the volunteers and everyone wore an unwavering smile.
Many of the other Concordia volunteers shared similar sentiments to mine. Second year, Sociology student, Paulina Reimondo simply described the day as “amazing”. That’s exactly what it was. To start the day with nothing but a few posts stuck in the ground, then have a group of about 200 volunteers, including some members of our armed forces, come out and build a park that will last generations in just one day, can only be described as “amazing”.
What drives someone to volunteer is the lasting impression they can make on someone else’s life. This sentiment rang true for the volunteers of the Tyndale playground project, including Jude Sweiban, who is doing his master’s in construction management at Concordia. “I am very proud of myself,” he said. “Ten years from now, I will walk by this park and know that I had something to do with the playground that the children are enjoying.”
This event was a kick-off to Volunteer Awareness month. The LIVE Centre is running volunteer initiatives throughout October. If you would like to learn more about how you can volunteer your time, visit the LIVE centre in room H-608-1, Henry F. Hall Building (1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W) or its website. I urge anyone who has some spare time to take part in a volunteer project. It was one of my most rewarding experiences during my time here at Concordia.
Related Link:
• LIVE centre