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Impacts & Connections -- Reflections End of Program
The 2012-2013 Experience This! program wrapped up last month and we'd like to share the reflections of the youth participants as they completed the program. They reflected on their experiences, growth and accomplishments and also shared their thoughts on the value and uniqueness of Serve's programming and approach.
I think what is unique about the Serve program is that, the program is a more hands-on and experiential program. As a participant, I got to work hands on with seniors, kids, resource centres, and also with the community in general. With the Serve program I can use all the skills I learned in the workshops throughout the program and use it after the program.
This program is also great because I can use Serve as a reference and stay connected to them even after the program is over, which I am so fortunate for. In any career path or goal you want to work on or achieve, Serve is there to support you one hundred per cent. Serve makes a great impact on the youth and the community because this program is made to help the youth growth in every part of life. I got to get all the necessary tools for the future and information I needed to better myself. Now I am extremely enlightened in our community.
By: K. A.
What makes Serve unique is that it’s the new various diverse skills that you gain from the program. Not just from the supervisor but from the whole team. The workshops and the energizers are the best part because you meet more people with unique aspects in themselves that may help you in the future. The energizers push you to accomplish the workshops.
When you do the workshops, don’t forget that you are making a difference in the community by assisting with your knowledge. Last but not least, don’t forget to laugh and have fun!
By: T.S.
What is unique about the Serve program? Well Serve goes out in the community to do awareness workshop and other fun workshops/projects for the youth and seniors that gives them a lot of info and knowledge and it’s an awesome program.
What stands out from the other youth programs/services? Serve staff give a lot of support and hands on help and they prepare you for a real life job and they help you get in the career you want to get in and they help you get in to school/college they also give a stipend to help you with stuff you need.
Value of it? Well it’s fun and awesome to work with kids, youth, and seniors and we get to learn new things about them that makes our projects interesting and fun.
How serve makes a difference for youth+community? Well Serve goes out in the community and does safe substance use and harm reduction workshops (a project of the youth team) that gives youth a lot of info and knowledge and the youth get to play the games we prepare for them. The youth really like the workshops we prepare for them so that’s what makes a big difference for the youth and community.
By: V.T.
The Serve (Experience This!) program is unique because it gives a team of youth a chance to build relationships within the group over a five and a half month period. The team gains hands on skills and learns new things through a variety of educational workshops as well as through volunteering at different service projects. Youth also experience what a real work environment is like by learning to work well with others, organize workshops, and they receive a stipend for maintaining program expectations. Youth learn the value of themselves, the community, and skills necessary to function well in school, work, and other social environments.
Serve makes a difference for youth and the community because it gets young people invested in the world around them. Serve gives youth opportunities to better themselves and their community and gain skills that would be hard to receive elsewhere. Serve also provides youth with support for their career, educational, and personal goals, giving access to resources and plans that make these—sometimes seemingly impossible—goals attainable.
By: B.H.
What is unique about Serve? At Serve you experience multiple growth--personal and professional. I feel that I'm a different person and that I have a lot of tools to complete the goals in life.
The staff and team are always open to help for improving as a group and others with their problems and weaknesses.
I think Serve was one of the best things that ever happened to me in my life and definitely after I came to Canada.
By: V.M.
The thing that is unique about Serve to me is the way that they help you throughout the program on your goals whether it be long-term and or short- term. The things that stood out to me were the projects that we did. At the kids project I will never forget the way the kids got excited to see us and play with us after they got to know us. At times, they wouldn’t even let me finish my lunch... they just wanted to play. Serve makes a difference to me because now I know how to use what I learned and apply it to my personal life and my professional life when I go to school and at a job.
By: M.E.
What makes Serve unique is that it works on your goals and they care about you at Serve and they also make you travel and get a feel of the city and take you on trips you never think you will ever do in your life time. Also, the value of Serve for one person is like almost $2,000 per month (in the Experience This! program) but also a priceless experience being in the program is really a life changer. Serve makes a difference because it changes the person you are in a right way and it teaches you about professionalism and organization overall. I thank all the donors for taking time out there day to help us... so special thanks to you for what you did because if it wasn’t for you we won’t have a program as great as Serve.
By: S.W.
Serve’s Experience This! program is amazing. You get to learn a lot about the community that we live in. There are so many workshops such as assertiveness, professionalism, anger management, nutrition, resilience, fitness, mental health, finance, housing etc. Also, you get to learn a lot about yourself. They help you build confidence gain experiences in various different types of places such as problem solving, conflict resolution, overcoming challenges.
Serve helps you build different skills like leadership, organization, time management etc. They have so many countless fun games and activities that you get to do and it makes it really enjoyable and worthwhile while you are in the program. You get to meet so many people while volunteering in different community projects. And we work in a diverse strong team and we do team building activities etc. We even went to Adventureworks! once day (an outdoor trip) and a 5 day trip to Boundless Adventures where you are pushed beyond your comfort zones...it makes you feel alive. They help you out a lot career- wise, help you with job interviews, resumes, cover letters, help you find a job and even help you get back to school. Serve makes a big difference in the community in positive ways.
By: R.C.
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