Kaden DaCruz

First year drama/poli sci major

CSL 100, Fall 2024, Dr. Jay Friesen

Who was your community partner, and can you describe the project objectives?

My community partner was the Abbottsfield Youth Project, and through helping with after school programming for children around 6 to 17 years old in Northeastern Edmonton,  the project looked to foster the development of positive life skills and provide a greater sense of community.

What was the biggest takeaway from your CSL placement?

The most massive lesson that I was taught at AYP was just how necessary bonds and social capital really are. This is especially true with children, and as my time at AYP progressed, I found it significantly easier to do more leadership-oriented tasks as my bonds with the kids I was working for grew.

How can you apply any newly gained knowledge/skills to your future endeavours (courses/employment/volunteering)? 

In the future, it'll be a priority for me to develop a solid bond with people working alongside me early on, probably through after school/work venues (like a karaoke night to break the ice).

Why should students consider being involved with CSL, and how does it enhance their academic learning?

Being involved with volunteer work creates stronger ties to the community, offers an important avenue for learning skills in a potentially unconventional setting, and can certainly tie right with and provide valuable on the ground experience that can relate back to material learned on campus.

How has receiving the Student Equity Award been a supportive avenue for you?

Without scholarships, I would not have the financial support necessary to pursue a post-secondary education, so the Student Equity Award has really been helpful there!

Kaden recieved a CSL student equity award! With support from the Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL Canada) and the Canadian federal government, CSL awards scholarships to equity-deserving students for their successful participation in an official CSL course.