Whether sewing toys for shelter animals or performing music for local seniors, lending a hand at a Habitat for Humanity house build or spending time playing with “little brothers,” Trinity College School students and staff are learning first-hand the joy of giving back and building connections in our community. At the midway point of the 13th Week Without Walls service learning program, there have already been many wonderful stories and perception-changing moments that remind us why this week of volunteerism is so meaningful.
After two planning sessions, on December 1st and 4th, it was finally time to serve, with our Senior School students and staff undertaking initiatives here on campus and out in the community – including Northumberland, Peterborough/Kawartha, Durham and Quinte regions – the afternoons of December 5th through 7th. With nearly 70 site groups this year, there were many different ways to give back, and it was exciting to see students put their talents to use in service of others, or move outside their comfort zones to embrace a new opportunity to contribute. Our community partners welcomed students and staff with open arms and we are so grateful to them for providing this chance to see up close the ongoing work being done every day within our local communities to make a difference.
Students are looking forward to Friday, December 8th when they’ll have a chance to talk within their groups about their experiences over the week, and to hear from a special guest speaker and see the much-anticipated Week Without Walls video.
We’ve also had some great emails from our two international service trips being held in conjunction with Week Without Walls. Our group in Panama enjoyed exploring Panama City, including the Panama Canal and historic Casco Viejo, a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site, before heading to Guadalupe, where they have been working at a local school, both on campus improvement projects and in the classroom helping the students learn English, playing games and reading with them. In the Bahamas, our Island School group has had a chance to immerse themselves in daily life at this sustainable institution, as well as exploring local ecosystems, such as mangroves and coral reefs, and learning more about marine life. They have had active, full days, including biking, hiking, swimming and snorkeling, as well as chores that support the day-to-day operations of the school.
We can’t wait to hear more about our international service trips and our local service initiatives as the Week Without Walls wraps up!
Click below for early photos from Week Without Walls:
