Business

Powlomee Mondal worked 50 hours supporting sustainability in the Rose Garden and at the Center of Community and Civic Engagement

Creating sleeping mats from plastic bagsWhat class is this for?

GBS282AA 27466

What tasks did you do at your service site?

In Net Impact:

  • I cut down the plastic bags in definite shape and pattern.
  • I made a rope-like structure by tying one plastic bag with other ones.
  • I wove it.
  • I made the plastic mats by weaving and made the pillow by using little pieces of plastic bags which are already cut down.

In the Rose Garden at MCC:

  • I pruned the rose plants in a definite shape.
  • I collected the plant debris.
  • I threw it in green trash tank beside the rose garden.

What was your favorite part of your experience?

I really enjoyed both of the parts. Making a plastic mat by using plastic bags is really a great experience for me. It's really a sustainable way to reduce the usage of plastics from our environment.

What was your greatest impact through this experience?

For the accomplishment of SDGs by 2030, we need to be aware about how we can make our world sustainable. That’s why we need to start our work from our community. I recycled plastic bags in a sustainable way which has no negative effect on the environment.

On the other hand it’s possible to produce green manure by using plant debris which are produced during pruning. By doing this, I feel I make a little contribution to protect the environment from being endangered.

What concepts did you understand better from your class (if it's service-learning) or on the subject or (if it is civic engagement) after serving at your service site?

My major is sustainable agriculture here. During the service learning, I understood more about how pruning and training is necessary for horticultural crops.

What is the most important principle you learned from this experience?

The most important principle that I learned from this two service sites is how working collaboratively within the organizations help to fulfill its goals.

Adriano worked 75 hours in the Rose Garden for Sustainable Agriculture

Rose Garden Trimming What class is this for?

GBS282AA 27466

What tasks did you do at your service site?

Trimming flowers and weeding in Rose Garden

What was your favorite part of your experience?

My favourite part was learn more about flowers

What was your greatest impact through this experience?

The biggest impact was the learning I gained and I will take it to my community

What concepts did you understand better from your class (if it's service-learning) or on the subject or (if it is civic engagement) after serving at your service site?

the concepts that I am best at is leadership, involvement with society and critical thinking

What is the most important principle you learned from this experience?

My idea of sharing my learning with my community

Siyabonga worked 54 hours at the Mesa Urban Garden to install and repair the drip irrigation system.

IrrigationWhat class is this for?

GBS282AA27466

What tasks did you do at your service site?

Setting-up drip irrigation systems,maintenance of garden plots-where crops are grown and landscaping.

What was your favorite part of your experience?

Learning proper ways of setting-up irrigation system, learning how to incorporate organic methods of growing crops and blending with modern techniques. which helps in yield maximization of crops.

What was your greatest impact through this experience?

I believe the kind of knowledge I shared with my mentors about African way of growing crops-organically-did make an impact.

What concepts did you understand better from your class (if it's service-learning) or on the subject or (if it is civic engagement) after serving at your service site?

Setting-up irrigation system that preserve water-and pest management practices.

What is the most important principle you learned from this experience?

Shared knowledge is a strong weapon that is essential in achieving success in life.

Zachus worked 60 hours at the Mesa Urban Garden supporting sustainable agriculture.

What class is this for?

GBS282AA27466

What tasks did you do at your service site?

My role at the garden was to ensure that all the beds are in a good condition, repairing them when broken and also ensuring that the irrigation system is working.

What was your favorite part of your experience?

My favorite part was repairing the irrigation system of the beds.

What was your biggest impact?

I pruned the overgrown branches of the trees and through this there was enough sunlight to the crops and this led to rapid growth of the crops at the garden.

What have you gained from this experience?

I now understand what is organic farming, sustainable farming and also the concept of irrigation of the crops.

What concepts did you understand better from your class (if it's service-learning) or on the subject or (if it is civic engagement) after serving at your service site?

In this service experience, I have learnt that, anyone can make use of the small garden he/she has in order to get fresh vegetables and through one can save some money and put in other investments.

Komal served 56 hours at Mesa United Way in Hunger

What class is this for?
GBS 282 with Carie Allen

What tasks did you do at your service site:
I did research to find contacts of speakers for annual hunger awareness program by Mesa United Way. I did research to look for ideas of promotion of Mesa United Way. I did a research project on MCC. I attended hunger awareness meetings and volunteered in cooking show in MCC on behalf of Mesa United way. I promoted Mesa United Way projects in different events like Thank You Day and Music Festival.

What was your favorite part of your experience?
My favorite part was attending hunger event meetings and attending the event.

What have you gained from this experience?
I learned communication skills and socialization. I learned different ideas to eradicate hunger in my country. My main focus was to move out of my comfort zone and find the opportunity to talk to people exchange knowledge which I did during my service learning

What concepts did you understand better from your class (if it's service-learning) or on the subject or (if it is civic engagement) after serving at your service site?
I understood the concept of volunteerism, promotion of different non-profit projects to different places and communication skills.

Irene served 118 hours at Center for Community & Civic Engagement

What class is this for?
GBS282 with Duane D. Oakes

What tasks did you do at your service site?
I worked at the front desk and helped students with whatever they needed. I also volunteered during programs organized by the center. I was also in charge of making sure flyers were available at all times. My role was not specific - I helped in multiple areas.

What was your favorite part of your experience?
Volunteering at the Arizona Summit on Volunteerism & Service-Learning. Second semester my favorite experience was volunteering at Dr. Seuss' Birthday. It was very fun and it was nice meeting the children and working with them.

What have you gained from this experience?
I developed my communication skills and I understand the meaning of volunteering. By the end of the year, I improved on my communication skills since I communicated with students more often.

What concepts did you understand better from your class (if it's service-learning) or on the subject or (if it is civic engagement) after serving at your service site?
I understood what it means to give out your time to someone who needs it. I understood how to give back to the community, especially volunteering with the children.

Zeeshan served 85 hours with Student Life & Leadership

What class is this for?
GBS282 with Duane D. Oakes

What tasks did you do at your service site?
Team-player, Leader, Organizer, Planner
Planning Event, Management, Organizing, Art

What was your favorite part of your experience?
The favorite part was engaging with everyone and providing food for the needy. My colleagues and my supervisor was very nice and friendly. They always showed interest in knowing my culture.

What have you gained from this experience?
I have gained a lot of experience in my service learning site. I have learned about people from different cultures, I have learned organizing skills, I have learned leadership skills, I have learned how to serve the community, and I have also learned how to plan an event. I have gained a lot of leadership skills and corporate knowledge. I have also learned to communicate effectively.

What concepts did you understand better from your class (if it's service-learning) or on the subject or (if it is civic engagement) after serving at your service site?
I believe that good communication is most important in any aspect of life. If there is no good communication then things will be in a chaos. I also understand that letting yourself led by someone is the first step of leadership.
I understood that positive behavior and good communication is essential in the corporate world as well as personal work.

Joselia served 53 hours with the Center for Teaching & Learning

What class is this for?
GBS282 with Duane D. Oakes

What tasks did you do at your service site?
Help organizing the office and help with events.

What was your favorite part of your experience?
My favorite part was the set up for events, even though it is tiring.

What have you gained from this experience?
I gained experience and how to work in a office. I improved mt communication skills and my organization.

What concepts did you understand better from your class (if it's service-learning) or on the subject or (if it is civic engagement) after serving at your service site?
Time management and organization.

Joselia served 50 hours at the Urban Horticulture Department

What class is this for?
GBS282 with Duane D. Oakes

What tasks did you do at your service site?
Transplanting plants, help on table in the events, go to the Farmers Club meeting

What was your favorite part of your experience?
Transplanting plants and going to the events was fun

What have you gained from this experience?
I understand more of sustainability and I met new people, that was what I wanted to gain from this experience

What concepts did you understand better from your class (if it's service-learning) or on the subject or (if it is civic engagement) after serving at your service site?
The concepts of my SSH111 class and MGT251, especially about the communication skills.

Racheal served 56 hours with Special Olympics and Center for Community & Civic Engagement

What tasks did you do at your service site?
I assisted with the planning and organization of the Four Peaks Area Bocce Ball & Bowling Tournaments. I also served at Feed My Starving Children, sticking labels on Manna Pack Rice bags; at Paz de Cristo, assisting with preparing and serving the dinner and helping to clean up after. I also assisted at Empty Bowls, the Scholastic Book Fair, and the Lost & Found Sale and Silent Auction, helping to set up for the events and to clean up after. I participated during most of the events, ensuring that all went smoothly.

What was your favorite part of your experience?
Seeing the joy light up the faces of the young athletes as they energetically participated at the games, celebrating as they and their fellow team mates won their medals, was touching and heart-warming. It was the BEST part of my experience.

What have you gained from this experience?
This experience has opened my eyes to the wonderful world of service-learning. Linking the service performed to the course materials and its learning objectives, and taking time to reflect upon and critically evaluate the service activities has enriched my learning experience. I was able to broaden my knowledge base, gaining comprehension of the term "bracketing." I also learned what Bocce Ball was and how to play this fun game. The experience has created a desire within to get more involved in the community. Although I have volunteered hundreds of hours in the past, adding the reflection and evaluation component to the learning experience, has wonderfully transformed basic volunteering into a measurable experience that benefits both the provider and the recipient of the service. I would definitely encourage others to get involved and try a service-learning class. It might drastically change how service is viewed, and make clearer one's role in society. The main benefit that I gained from my service-learning experience was realizing that the I needed to change the major that I had previously selected. I now know where my talents are best suited and where I would find the most satisfaction from a profession.

What concepts did you understand better from your class (if it's service-learning) or on the subject or (if it is civic engagement) after serving at your service site?
The theme of my ENG 102 course this semester was disability, therefore I decided to assist with the planning and organizing of the Four Peaks Area Special Olympics Bocce Ball & Bowling Tournaments. Serving at these two events has brought a deeper, more meaningful understanding of children with disability and what their world looks like. It brought attention to the need for awareness and the importance of acceptance of people with disability. It also highlighted the issue of accessibility and the lack of proper access to many buildings and facilities for people with disability - a huge disservice to this population. My service-learning experience brought light to and reinforced these two critical subjects that were explored during the course.