By Nicole Findlay
While their peers basked on southern beaches or revelled on ski slopes, a group of FASS students choose instead to spend Reading Week learning about one of Canada’s poorest neighbourhoods and volunteering with an inner-city school in East Vancouver.
“One of my goals for this trip was to learn about the more positive things about the downtown eastside, so I could share my experiences with others and help demystify some of the negative stereotypes that arise,” said Jamie Lee, third-year human rights major.
Participating in FYEO’s Alternative Spring Break, FASS students spent Reading Week working at the Grandview/?Uuqinak’uuh Elementary School. Located in one of Vancouver’s poorer neighbourhoods, 80 per cent of the student population lives in poverty, and a third has learning disabilities. Every morning, employees conduct a needle sweep of the school yard. Although the school sounds bleak, the FASS students’ preconceptions were turned upside down on arrival.
“Contrary to my expectations, the school is no basket-case; it is lively, joyous, and thriving,” said Josh Prowse, a philosophy major.
The school has transformed its yard to include herbal, butterfly, flower and community gardens. These are maintained by the elementary students and assisted by community volunteers. In addition to providing a communal space for the neighbourhood and outdoor classroom, school officials have noted a decrease in prostitution and drug trafficking on school grounds.
During the week, Carleton students and faculty were divided into groups and alternated work on various projects initiated by the school’s administrators. Among these were a mural painting in the gymnasium, the creation of a graffiti wall in a stairwell and a garden revitalization project. They also studied the impact of urban agriculture and sustainability initiatives, and community development art projects.
“The experience taught me that though you can’t change the world, you can make a dent,” said Adetope (Tope) Adetayo, psychology major. “I realised that no matter how insignificant you think what you’re doing is, it has an impact on someone’s life.”
City representatives lead the Carleton volunteers in a discussion about the systemic issues at the root of poverty – homelessness, inadequate housing and public policies.
“Judy (Graves, a Vancouver City Hall representative) broadened my horizons about different ways to do research and about the diversity of people that are in the DTES (downtown eastside),” said Davene Palvetzian, a fourth-year history major and peer helper in Carleton’s FYEO community service branch. “I have since contacted her and hope to have the opportunity to have her as a mentor.”
The trip solidified both Lee’s and Palvetzian’s decisions to pursue a career in community development. While other FASS students may not follow the same career path, Alternative Spring Break has left them with a renewed commitment to helping others.
“Once you become involved, the problems are no longer academic, they’re personal, and because of that, they’ll forever gnaw at your brain,” said Prowse. “For me, Alternative Spring Break is more a duty than a choice – we need to tackle poverty, everyone needs to make their small contribution to make the world a better place.”