Internships

At the centre, I spent my mornings in the children's services stay and play, where I led art projects for parents and their children. This involved planning a new project every week, helping to set up the art table and interacting with parents and kids. I also visited an older member of the community in her home through the Kilburn Good Neighbors project, with the visits having the goal of increasing her social interaction and getting her more active. I participated in Tech Buddy sessions weekly, and did some reception work such as data entry and making flyers. Overall during my time there, I saw that the community centre, and those working in it, were major parts of our members' lives. The centre and employees, including the interns, provide a structured routine of socialization, creativity, and fitness that members really lean into.

Abbey Community Centre stands as a testament to the help a community centre can provide. People of all ages walk through these doors seeking assistance, activities, or simply somebody to talk to. The staff here at Abbey are fiercely committed to helping with these endeavours, no matter how big or small. The centre runs like a well-oiled machine! Coming from a student from New York, I felt right at home here. The staff are all extremely kind, and are willing to help at any opportunity. Those considering applying should know that once you are involved at the centre, you will be given full trust in what you do, but help whenever you need it. As someone who worked on several off-site activities, I could tell how beneficial these were for those who I was helping. My time at Abbey will be one that I will likely never forget.

During my time at Abbey Community Centre, I have been involved in numerous tasks that have assisted the Centre in several ways. The work I did benefitted me mostly through the connections I was able to form. I was very positively impacted by the relationships I formed with my coworkers in the sense that they made me feel extremely welcomed and just as much a part of the team as anyone else there. The kindness demonstrated toward me motivated me to be my best while in the center. This also made it much easier to form positive connections with community members. Simply forming a short-term bond with people from a different country than myself opened me up to new perspectives and provided me with an even greater appreciation for the stories individuals have to share.