MacServe Reading Week: Expand your horizon while giving back to the community

Looking to do something fulfilling during Reading Week? Why not join others from across the country in MacServe Reading Week programs.

MacServe Reading Week is a one-week experience that enables students to take a closer look at local, national and global issues while investigating their own capacity to affect positive social change.

Launched in 2003, MacServe excursions give participants an opportunity to form new relationships and learn about themselves while they engage in valuable service-learning activities.

Natacha Ngo, a second-year kinesiology student who participated in the Montreal program last year, feels the experience helped her develop leadership skills.

“Before, I was wary of speaking my thoughts about issues that plagued our society. But this trip helped me to be more confident in expressing my thoughts to others,” said Ngo.

This year, there are five locations and seven themes to choose from. In Hamilton, the themes are music for social change and youth and poverty; in Montreal, participants explore advocacy and inclusion; food security is the focus in Vancouver; in New Orleans, the theme is disaster and resilience; and in the Dominican Republic, participants will learn about education for self-determination or social determinants of health.

Ngo says she didn’t know what was in store for her when she registered for the Montreal trip but she’s glad she went.

“To me, community engagement is making positive contributions to the community: Being engaged with your mind and heart, always seeking to learn and grow,” she said.

Registration for the five MacServe Reading Week programs is open on OSCARplus until Nov. 3. For more information on each program, click here.