A new program at Dalhousie is giving students the tools and motivation they need to get involved and make meaningful contributions to their community.
It’s called DALConnects, administered through Dal’s Career and Leadership Development Centre, and it’s currently starting its second year.
“DALConnects is a great way to gain new skills as a student if you don’t have a lot of job experience,” says student and DALConnects participant Megan Glenn. “It’s also an opportunity to learn something that isn’t part of your program. I would suggest the program to anyone who wants to become more involved in the community and discover what it really means to be a leader.”
Through the program, Megan volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club of Spryfield, a non-profit organization that aims to provide social, recreational and educational support for youth.
“As a volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club of Spryfield, it’s my job to entertain the kids by playing with them and being there for them as a friend,” she says. “I also attend additional events such as parades and bowling fundraisers on weekends.
Megan says she didn’t feel like she was getting involved enough — in school or in the community — at the end of her first year. That’s why she was excited to come across DALConnects while searching for volunteer opportunities on the Dal website.
“I feel like I have learned more from the kids than they have learned from me sometimes,” Megan says. “It makes me happy to be there when the kids show up after school and they yell my name and run to me to give me hugs.”
Getting back from giving back
In addition to providing resources and guidance in finding the right volunteer opportunity for participants, the DALConnects program aims to foster leadership skills through a series of workshops. These small group-orientated sessions address topics such as team building, mental health stigma, and recognizing and developing leadership skills. The program’s goal is to help students develop real-world skills to be successful in their volunteering.
“You will discover that not all learning is done in a classroom!” says Megan. “As a Dalhousie student, these resources are available to you and I would encourage anyone to take advantage of this amazing opportunity.”
Megan was awarded the top certificate level of the DALConnects program last year. In addition to her work at the Boys and Girls Club, she has volunteered to give tours at Dalhousie for prospective students and has travelled with other DALconnect participants to attend the Canadian Conference on Student Leadership.
Want to learn more about the DALConnects program? Visit the myCareer site or email dalconnects@dal.ca.
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