Canada
Where: New Hamburg, ON
Field Study: 3 months as camp pastor; teaching peace curriculum to kids age 8-16
Organization: Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp
I was excited to formally use skills I've learned in PACS classes, and learned how to connect peace concepts for kids of different age groups
Where: Oakville, Ontario
Field Study: Working two times a week at the Women's Centre on various projects such as an environmental scan of the Halton region, marketing, and administrative tasks.
Organization: Halton Women's Centre
I decided to pursue a field study because I wanted to explore possible career options; I was considering doing my masters in Social work and wanted some experience in the field before I applied to the program. I have volunteered abroad previously and wanted more experience with social services here in Canada. Without this experience I would not have given my future career options much thought; it provided me with a much needed boost to consider what I really want to do and what interests me.
Where: Timmins, Ontario
Field Study: Working with MCC to repair relationships between the broader Canadian society and Aboriginal peoples thorugh inter-cultural dialogue, advocacy, and community building support.
Organization:MCC's Aboriginal Neighbours Program
The stories of First Nations deserve and need to be heard and it was an honour to play a role in developing resources that will enable that to happen. International experiences have unquestionable value, but there is so much peace-building that needs to happen right here in Canada as well and I am grateful that my Field Studies experience allowed me to be a part of that.
Where: Timmins, Ontario
Field Study: Worked on issues of natural resource development and conflict, environmental clean-up, and economic justice
Organization:MCC and Mushkegowuk Council
My internship in Timmins, Ontario with Mennonite Central Committee and Mushkegowuk Council showed me how little I know about life in northern Ontario, especially life in the First Nation communities in the North. My education in environmental studies and peace and conflict studies found a welcome home as I worked on issues surrounding natural resource development and conflict, environmental clean-up, and economic justice. I left my internship with an eagerness to learn more about northern Ontario. This semester I'm enrolled in a Canadian studies course entitled Current Issues in Native Communities in Canada; I'm looking forward to continuing my learning about Aboriginal issues in Canada.
Cole Atlin: PACS / Environment and Resources Studies Joint Major
Where: London, Ontario
Field Study: Four month internship; Assisting to design a conflict resolution course and conducting research on the challenge of developing new governance arrangements with aboriginal peoples.
Organization:Community Mediation Services at the University of Western Ontario's Faculty of Law
Adam De Sousa: PACS Major
Where: St. John's, Newfoundland
Field Study: Coordinating the Pedal for the Planet Event in Newfoundland and assisting on their Climate Chane and Women's Rights campaign.
Organization: Oxfam
I'm currently working on their new national campaign entitled Climate Change and Women's Rights. So far for the past three weeks I have been given the task of coordinating (with people of different regional environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs)) this nation-wide event called Pedal for the Planet. I'm basically coordinating the Newfoundland leg of the event, which seeks to gain support from Canadians all throughout the country in pushing the government to sign a new climate deal in Copenhagen in December. People will be cycling across Newfoundland and then meet up with the Nova Scotia leg, which will then meet up with Quebec, and then meet Ontario in Ottawa on September 20 for the re-opening of parliament. We're scheduled for a July 3rd kick-off date here in St. John's, the same date that Vancouver will be kicking off onas well. It's really good experience so far. Working in an NGO is interesting. I find that I am always learning new things, both good and, maybe, not so good!
Where: Waterloo, Ontario
Field Study: Working with the Sunnydale Community Centre to provide English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, Focus for Ethnic Women, the Healthy Lifestyles group, Job Connect and an at-risk youth group.
Organization: House of Friendship
[I want to] become more familiar on a more meaningful level with the socioeconomic, ethnic, immigration and other factors that contribute to community conflict, and the poverty cycle.
Where: Downtown Eastside Vancouver, Ontario
Field Study: Project intern
Organization: Praxis
Overall, my summer was a success! My experiences as the Praxis project intern have been quite stretching. It was interesting and wonderful to have the opportunity to serve and live in solidarity with the poor in a North American context… This held unique challenges and joys. Most of all, this summer was a lesson for me in faith. Faith that there is hope, even in the midst of despair, brokenness and pain.