Munachiso Nwanisobi 

BA Psychology, 5th year

CSL 370, Spring 2024, Lisa Prins

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

This was a special class in the sense that we didn’t have one placement. Every week we engaged with different part of the Edmonton community.

The main objective was to engage as we were learning actively. Our professors wanted to show us that learning is always on going especially when it comes to volunteering. When we find ourselves within these communities, they become the teachers and we are their students. We were to learn different community issues and how we can do that by exchanging gifts and status. And so we visited communities like Boyle street, Centre McDougall Garden, Stan Daniels, kindred house etc

What was the biggest takeaway from your CSL placement?

The biggest takeaway was the importance of acknowledging certain status placed by societal norms. Usually when volunteering, it is insinuated that the community we are volunteering with is the one learning from us or is the one benefiting in terms of gift. But the truth of the matter is that it is always changing. There are things we can learn from them and things they can learn from others. And this all because of our background, our story and what brought to this moment that we are in. It allowed me to check my privilege especially in a country that is not home and I am benefiting from

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

I aim to apply what I have learnt by practicing it. I aim to enter spaces that I am are not familiar to me with a blank slate so that I can emulate that teacher student or student teacher that will guide my experience. It has also shaped the way that I have viewed volunteering and I hope to engage in more human services. But most of all, it has provided clarity and support to my employment as it has shown me to see each experience and people I meet as a learning moment.  It has made me realize that this what I want to do. Be in a community of diverse backgrounds, exchange knowledge and help each other as opposed to me just being the one having all the power because society says so

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

The CSL program provides student with the opportunity to match their learning with real world situations. This would allow them to not only gain experiences in their field but it could possibly expand their knowledge on other career pathways that would apply to their degree. It broadens your perspectives and world views by exposing you to the lived experiences of different communities. Experiences not explained by a second party. In the academic world, it gives you the opportunity to see theoretical concepts in practice while also giving voice to the different ways those concepts manifest. It challenges your understanding of lecture material by allowing you to actually apply it. But most of all, it allows you to be an active part of a community. Meet new people and make experiences that would last you a life time