(Thanks OBC's ESL program giving me the opportunity to share my understanding of community service here.)
What does Community service mean to us? After visiting Melissa who got brain tumor surgery and became visually disabled, I have been thinking about what community service means to us.
For me, community service means anything you do that benefits your community. Good examples of community service would include: tutoring children, assisting the elderly, helping out at your local shelter, or even cleaning up your community area. Our ESL program is a good example. We have been in operation for almost three years ,basically zero-funded and is solely operated by volunteers . One of the ESL main mission is helping our visiting mothers and our community and help new international students to integrate into the local community. (So, let's give thanks to Eve and ESL all volunteer teachers and all other volunteers!) It's time think about giving back to our community !
I personally met a great man whose name is Ron. Ron dedicated his life ,passion and time to help new immigrants, especially those from China . He listened to their problems and provided advice , making real human connection along the way. He mentored young specialists and fresh graduates by going through different interview scenarios and improved their resumes, until they found good jobs. That was after Global financial crisis in 2008 when many people lost their jobs. My daughter and I both benefited from this great man. We were so moved ,touched by his kindness . Ron later died of cancer and when we attended Run's Memorial service，many people wept for the lost of a beautiful soul and a close friend !
Participating in community service has many benefits . Here are some statements regarding high school students community service participation : “Students engaged in service-learning are engaged in authentic situations; they get to know real people whose lives are affected by these issues… As a result, they have lots of questions—real questions that they want to have answered. Thus, students are interested and motivated to learn the materials to resolve their questions." Young people who participate in community service , apply what is taught to resolve real world issues, thus, equipping themselves to become better citizens . That why so many parents want their children to get involved in community service. It's not only for getting the volunteer hours that high school or college graduation requires, but also learning from community service.
Second benefit of community service participation is that people get to interact with those in entirely different social and economic environments. These experiences allow people to see life from a different perspective and reevaluate their opinions of others. Many young people who get involved in community service come out with a deeper worldview.
Another benefit of doing community service activities is that we can gain a better understanding and greater appreciation of the country’s diversity. In multicultural Canada, appreciating other cultures and tearing apart silos and stereotypes play important roles to help people become more responsible citizens and better persons.
Melissa's parents dedicate their lives working at OM Chile. They help and take care of orphans, transform lives and communities. They wish to show God's unconditional love to people who are less fortunate. We Chinese are beneficiaries of such love as well. In the 18th century, for the salvation of the Chinese soul, many foreign pastors gave up their own comfort or even lives to work in China, which was then very poor and backward. Melissa told me that helping orphans, giving hugs to homeless and delivering God good news are her parents passion. She respects her parents’ wish to live out their own passions by helping others. From my prospective, Melissa’s parents live a very fulfilling and complete life!
We can all learn from Melissa’s parents and Ron . All we need to do is to spend some time with those in need. We and our children shall devote ourselves to helping others and making our community a better place and ourselves a better person! Let's not wait! Let’s jump into the real life and act!
(Thanks again for having me to share my understanding of community service !)
