The first Saturday of every March is YVC Day, and this year the theme was Sustainability: Go Green, Go Global! As an organization, YVC encourages youth to give back to their local and global community as young leaders. However, volunteerism is a lifelong journey, as exemplified by the YVC Alumni Network. This year, the YVC Alumni Advisory Council also participated in the YVC Day activities, showing ways in which alumni can continue to engage with their community, whether through organizations, group events, or as an individual.
Many mornings, when the weather permits, I have a tea outside. In Calgary, where I live, the snow was starting to melt the week before YVC Day (although, as I’m writing this, it is blizzarding). With the warm weather, an abundance of trash and litter was revealed in my neighborhood, discarded the season before. This though, provided an opportunity. Ultimately, improving the environment and communities we share can be simple and done as an individual. Volunteerism should not only be measured by hours served and dollars raised, as small, habitual actions accumulate in big ways.
For YVC Day, I went outside with a pair of gloves and two garbage bags, with the simple goal of filling them. In addition to cleaning my community, this provided an opportunity to mindfully spend time outdoors. As I collected litter, I noticed how many ladybugs there were, one of the first signs of Spring. I was saddened to see the insects crawling among cigarette butts. Nature in many ways is cyclical, and sustainability serves to maintain those cycles, allowing the signs of Spring to be enjoyed time and time again. I hope that eventually, I’ll be able to find a loveliness of ladybugs, without also noticing our collective disregard for our environment.
I didn’t have to walk more than 300 meters before both bags were completely full. While this level of litter is unfortunate, it exemplifies a simple and effective way to serve the community. Realistically, I could take a short walk to collect litter the first Saturday of every month… even every week! Although organized volunteer efforts are important, if every person was able to integrate habitual community service into their way of life, the impact would far exceed the capacity of any organization.
As a YVC alumnus, I feel I have developed a unique set of tools related to volunteer service, which is relevant to community-based sustainability. Overall, sustainability is necessary to allow the natural beauty and diversity of our communities to thrive. In the context of the environment, YVC alumni should continue to volunteer because the betterment of our natural world requires input from everyone. However, this message of community involvement extends to many different contexts, with YVC alumni often possessing valuable perspectives and skills necessary to approach the complex issues of our time. Ultimately, YVC alumni should continue to volunteer because everyone deserves to build a better world.
Once the snow melts again, I’m excited to drink my tea in the morning while I look out at a cleaner neighbourhood. I have lived in this city my whole life, and I feel it is my personal responsibility to engage kindly with the land and the communities it supports. Although simple, this act of service has inspired me to integrate volunteerism more deeply into my life, encouraging me to volunteer mindfully, individually, and consistently. I’m excited to celebrate YVC Day all year round!