Instead of sleeping in this Saturday, 190 McMaster students will wake up extra early to make a difference in the lives of others. They will be volunteering for Mac Serve, a one-day initiative organized by the Office of Community Service Learning and Civic Engagement (OCSLCE) at McMaster University.

This year, the OCSLCE was overwhelmed with more than 270 registrants and had to limit participation to 190 students. Groups of volunteers will spend the day helping non-profit organizations spanning Hamilton and the surrounding area. With placements such as the Children's International Learning Centre, Friends of the Aviary and Wesley Urban Ministries, volunteers are sure to learn something new about themselves and their community.

The goals of the program are not solely focused on helping others. Discussions and debriefing allow individuals to examine their role in society, challenge their existing beliefs, and ask themselves what kind of role they want play in the future.

For this type of learning to occur, the day is structured around a co-teaching model, where each member of the group is not only a student for the day, but also a teacher to those around them. All participants are encouraged to share their thoughts, beliefs, ideas and experiences. By helping each other find meaning in the day's work, challenge existing beliefs and look towards the future, all students have the opportunity to learn from the experience.

To find out more about McMaster's Office of Community Service Learning and Civic Engagement as well as upcoming participant opportunities, please contact Brooke MacKinnon, community liaison, at servicelearning@mcmaster.ca or visit servicelearning.mcmaster.ca.