We were thrilled recently to receive a call from Kimberley Gatrell, an ESL teacher at VanWest College, who teaches the YCC Your Community Connection class.

We have had the good fortune to have Kimberley鈥檚 past students help at different events like the annual Okanagan Volunteer Fair (coming up Sept. 21, 2024), and our mail stuffing party and they have also helped at Helen鈥檚 Acres, The Family Hub, and Happy Hooves.

This time, Kimberley was calling to let us know her current students had decided to organize a fundraiser for the Family Friend program because they were so moved by the impact this program makes in the lives of single parents.

VanWest is a private college focused on providing support and excellence in education and training to ensure that students have the best learning experience. As part of that, it offer the VCC class as an elective for their students to really engage with the community they are immersed in while they do their studies. The students learn about volunteerism and how it supports our community as many of them aren鈥檛 familiar with similar programs in their home countries.

The focus of this course is to explore Canadian cultures, fundraising for social issues and team building. The students become very close while learning and communicating, staying in touch with each other but also agency volunteers.

Since they have had the opportunity to volunteer as part of their program, many students have now returned and sought out ways to give back in their hometowns.

In addition to hosting the fundraiser, some of the students have also been helping at the 91大黄鸭 Gospel Mission, SHARE and the Food Bank.

The students were excited to share their thoughts on what volunteering has meant to them.

Yui shared that 鈥渟o many people need help. Fundraising, I felt a sense of accomplishment because the money was going to a good cause. I also realized that small change will make a big change in society.鈥�

Aoi added, 鈥淲hen we did the fundraising event, it had a big impact on me, especially because we raised money specifically because of a mom and her family.鈥�

All of the students shared that their ability to learn from social service agencies like KCR has helped them get a new lens on community issues. 鈥淚n Japan, we only volunteer for natural disasters and not for everyday needs,鈥� noted Sunao.

Andrea remarked:鈥淢y perspective on social issues is that not all of us understand what is really happening until we decide to look at the problem.鈥�

Another student said, 鈥淧eople are so kind who work at the non-profits.鈥�

The students also identified their learning meant that they had less fear of the unhoused community, recognizing that those struggling with homeless are people who have likely struggled with a variety of issues.

Dora shared that she was impressed that the Gospel Mission approach. 鈥淭hey ask people what they need, they don鈥檛 just give them what we think they need,鈥� she said.

Big thanks to all of the students how organized the fundraiser for sharing their time and hearts with the families in the Family Friend program and for giving back to the communities in Canada and their home countries.

Dorothee Birker is the communications & development manager for KCR Community Resources.