In addition to future-focused academics, the University of Niagara Falls Canada (UNF) prioritizes community involvement amongst its student body. A clear demonstration of this is the launch of the new UNF Volunteer Board, a centralized online place for students to find volunteer opportunities across the Niagara region, ranging from spending a few hours at a food bank to participating in specific holiday-themed events.
The board, a joint project from the university’s Student Success Office and Community Engagement Team, had its official launch on Dec. 5, fittingly it was International Volunteer Day.
Getting students excited about volunteering won’t be a challenge. Since the university first opened in April, 84 students have given a total of 357 hours of their personal time to assisting with on-campus events and helping charitable organizations.
One such student is Keisy Duque. When not attending classes and doing coursework for her Master of Arts in Digital Media and Global Communications degree, Duque volunteers at Project SHARE, a Niagara Falls-based non-profit that offers services related to food security, housing, education, and healthy living. She first learned about the organization through UNF’s Career Services department.
“Volunteering has always been important to me. In Ecuador, my home country, I taught classes to low-income adults and worked as an entertainer for children’s events,” said Duque. “Volunteering brings joy not only to those I help but to myself as well. The happiness and gratitude from those I serve is deeply rewarding, and I encourage everyone to experience the joy of volunteering.”
Along with enriching the lives of others, Kimberly Mikalauskas, Career Advisor at UNF, believes that volunteering helps students grow in ways that are beneficial to their transition from school to the workplace.
“From a career perspective, [volunteering] allows students to build meaningful connections, develop transferrable skills, and gain hands-on experience that will set them apart in the job market. Every volunteer role is a step towards personal and professional success,” said Mikalauskas.
Three hundred and fifty-seven volunteer hours is already an amount that makes the university community proud. However, using the board means that UNF students can potentially make it even higher before the Fall Term ends.
“The launch of the UNF Volunteer Board reflects our commitment to civic engagement and connecting students with opportunities to make a meaningful impact,” said Felicia Werner, Executive Director of Community Engagement. “The more than 350 volunteer hours already recorded show our students’ dedication to giving back to the Niagara community. The university is thrilled by the enthusiasm they’ve shown, especially during this holiday season, and we’re confident that, together, we’ll surpass the 400-hour milestone by the end of the term.”
The UNF Volunteer Board is available to students through the university’s internal Student Experience Hub in Cascade.
