{"id":46924,"date":"2017-10-02T11:25:06","date_gmt":"2017-10-02T15:25:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=46924"},"modified":"2017-10-03T08:45:38","modified_gmt":"2017-10-03T12:45:38","slug":"volunteers-needed-for-alternative-reading-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2017\/10\/volunteers-needed-for-alternative-reading-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Volunteers needed for Alternative Reading Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

Their trips may have taken place 3,000 miles apart, but Jesse Clews and Jennifer Krause both came home with a similar outlook on life.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Brock students participated in the University\u2019s Alternative Reading Week (ARW) program in February 2017, heading to Peru and South Carolina respectively. They both plan to return to their respective volunteer posts this winter, but not without bringing along a few new recruits.<\/span><\/p>\n

The pair will be on hand to share their experiences at some of the upcoming information sessions aimed at getting new ARW volunteers on board.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the vast distance and differing cultures of each location, both Clews and Krause experienced the effectiveness of the program and its overwhelming impact on participants.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Jesse

Jesse Clews worked closely with Peruvian children during Brock\u2019s February 2017 Alternative Reading Week program in Peru, where he was part of a medical outreach team.<\/p><\/div>\n

In South Carolina, Krause, now a fourth-year history student, worked alongside fellow Brock students and local community members to build a Habitat for Humanity house for a family in need. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI learned a lot about myself,\u201d Krause said of the experience. \u201cI am really shy and I was nervous about meeting new people in a different environment. While I was there, I learned a lot of new personal skills and interacted with others on a different level.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, in Peru, Clews, now a fourth-year health sciences student, was participating in a medical outreach program that allowed him to not only gain important hands-on experience, but to also learn valuable life lessons.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe trip gave me the medical job-shadowing opportunities that I needed,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd on a humanitarian level, I learned that we all need to be a bit more appreciative of what we have.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Kristen Smith, Manager of Community Outreach Programs, with Brock’s\u00a0Student Life and Community Experience Department<\/span><\/a>\u00a0emphasized that, in addition to personal growth, students on Alternative Reading Week trips are also often practically affirmed in their career choices.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey feel the sense of \u2018I am in the right field,\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cOr they realize there is a less traditional path for them to take to begin their career.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

That sentiment rang true for both Clews and Krause.<\/span><\/p>\n

Krause, an aspiring teacher, said the trip has inspired her to direct her career towards helping the less fortunate.<\/span><\/p>\n

Clews discovered that Peruvian physicians employ a more holistic approach to patient care, and he hopes to use this method within his own medical career.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond the hands-on humanitarian experience, Krause and Clews each felt the best part of their respective trips involved spending time with local residents while soaking up some life lessons they could not have learned at home.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey taught me to be more patient and not to sweat the small stuff,\u201d Clews said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd to treat everyone with equity, dignity and respect,\u201d echoed Krause.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe impact that individuals can have in our global society, recognizing similarities and differences, is life changing,\u201d said Smith. \u201cAnd we are excited for more students to have those experiences in this year\u2019s programs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Clews hoped to encourage students to take the leap and join one of the worthwhile trips.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou are volunteering seven days of your reading week to have experiences that will stay with you for the rest of your life,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Students interested in learning more about Brock\u2019s Alternative Reading Week program are invited to attend the following information sessions:<\/span><\/p>\n