MacServe Engage: ‘One of the best decisions I ever made’
McMaster students meet with Falcon (black jacket, baseball cap) at the Great Spirit Circle Trail on Manitoulin Island. Twelve participants traveled to the M’Chigeeng First Nation community to learn about local history and traditions as part of the MacServe Engage program. Others in the program took part in activities in Costa Rica and Hamilton.
Nursing student Elizabeth Russell feels that her MacServe Engage experience in Costa Rica has motivated her to get more involved.
“Signing up for the trip was one of the best decisions I ever made,” said Russell, who recently completed her second-year at McMaster. “I learned to challenge myself more and step outside my comfort zone. I am going to continue to volunteer and give back to my community… and stay connected with the MacServe Engage program.”
MacServe Engage is a local, national and international multi-week experience that is offered through the University’s Student Success Centre. It challenges participants to live in, learn about and critically evaluate issues in a host community. The goal is for participants to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their communities through service experience, cultural workshops and reflection.
Twenty-seven students recently took part in MacServe Engage service-learning excursions at sites in Hamilton, Manitoulin Island and Boruca, Costa Rica. Nine students embarked on the Costa Rica excursion; 12 traveled to Manitoulin Island and six stayed in Hamilton. Past MacServe Engage destinations have included Nairobi, Kenya, Chira Island and Urubamba, Peru.
In Boruca, located several hours south of San Jose, participants had an opportunity to learn about the local community through attending community social events, and participating in workshops and outings. Experiences included visits to local markets, social and historic workshops, community activities as well as tours of environmentally significant areas near Boruca. Students also worked closely with Vida Volunteer, a company that promotes and executes projects and programs related to sustainable development in rural and urban communities.
In Hamilton, students partnered with Habitat for Humanity and Banyon Community Services for a variety of workshops and community activities, and learned more about the city’s rich cultural and industrial heritage. For the Manitoulin Island excursion, participants traveled to the M’Chigeeng First Nation community and learned about the history and traditions of First Nations Peoples on the island while participating in a variety of workshops and reflection exercises.
Connor Morris, a third-year Sociology and Political Science student who took part in the Hamilton program, says he appreciated learning about the city in a variety of ways. Morris recommends the experience to students who want to improve their self-reflection and critical thinking skills.
Want to learn more about MacServe Engage? Click here.
