Veronica Sharkey, second from the right, with her fellow participants on the Churchill River outside Leaf Rapids in Northern Manitoba, 2017
Finding community outside of the classroom
Make the most of your university experience with Community Service-Learning
Do you want to feel connected to your city and community? CSL is here to help.
Community Service-Learning helps students, staff and faculty connect to community: both a community of practice with like-minded people, and a community of action with members of the wider community.
Available programs
New this year, students, staff and faculty are welcome to take part in year-round programs that increase poverty awareness and explore our connection to land and water as volunteers, mentors and facilitators. Visit the website for more information, and for application deadlines.
February Reading Week and Summer Term programs are open to all U of M students.
What will participation do for you?
- Develop skills in project planning and community engagement through Alternative Reading Week Winnipeg
- Learn about natural building, plant-based medicine, permaculture and survival skills while exploring the Amazon during February Reading Week
- Join a collective of social justice artists bringing performances and workshops to remote island communities in the Patagonia region of Chile
- Support Indigenous youth engagement and leadership development in Northern Manitoba and the Toledo District of Belize
Local programs are free of charge, and needs-based travel bursaries are available to support students applying to northern and international programs, including part-time and international students. Applications for these programs are due November 30.
Community engagement training
Participants in all programs will take part in orientation and training to develop the foundational knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to work with community. These include critically reflecting on our identity, gifts and roles, valuing the knowledge and expertise of communities, and taking action in ethical and culturally safe ways.
“I did a program like this before and it didn’t have the same pre-departure training, and I think for that reason, I got a lot less out of it,” reflects Veronica Sharkey, B.A. Hons in Sociology and a past participant in the Leaf Rapids and Land and Water programs. “I think CSL gives you tools and skills to take with you on your programming, and also you can take your skills with you later. They’re really good at capacity-building and equipping you, and listening to your needs in the same way that they are listening to the community needs.”
For more information about CSL programs and workshops, visit the Community Service-Learning website or reach out to a CSL Coordinator at 204.474.6992 or service [dot] learning [at] umanitoba [dot] ca. All CSL programs can be included on your Co-Curricular Record.