University encourages students to volunteer

(CNS): Mitch Ebanks, Student Services Coordinator at the UCCI says the once strong sense of community service has declined in recent years among ouryoung people in particular and the UCCI is aiming to encourage its students to give something back and reverse that trend. Last week nearly 100 students, faculty and staff attended a special service day where 11 nonprofit and community organisations showcased their work and made a bid to recruit local students in the college’s outdoor Courtyard. “UCCI is committed to offering its students a variety of opportunities for growth and development, both inside and outside the classroom,” Ebanks said.

“It is our belief that the benefits and lessons that one learns through volunteerism are so unique that they cannot be replicated through other experiences,” he added.  “For those of us who grew up doing community work we know that the rewards that come from giving one’s time to service projects is a prize in and of itself. 

“Unfortunately, what we find is that this sense of community service and volunteerism has taken a sharp decline in recent years, especially among our young people.  Our aim is to get back to that place where community service is something that is second nature and comes naturally as something that one simply does.  If what we saw today is any indication, these incentives help us grab attention, but it’s the work of these organizations that will get the students motivated and committed for the long run,” Ebanks said.

Big Brothers Big Sisters, Cayman AIDS Foundation, CI Cadet Corps, CI Crisis Centre, CI Cancer Society, CI Humane Society, CI Red Cross, Circle K, Estella Scott-Roberts Foundation, NCVO and the Optimist Club were all on the lookout for young volunteers to join their ranks.

The charities said they were pleased to be askedto take part. CI Red Cross Director, Jondo Obi said, “As a charitable organisation, we are always in need of expanding our pool of volunteers and enhancing their knowledge and skills. We thoroughly believe that the youth of today are an excellent asset to our society and are the future leaders.  We were very pleased by the turnout and the number of students who showed interest in getting more involved in our community,” she said.

UCCI’s Service Day is an annual event open to all community service organizations in Cayman.  For more information, contact the Student Services Department at UCCI by emailing: mebanks@ucci.edu.ky or cferreira@ucci.edu.ky.