Canning College has launched a new initiative that provides students with volunteer opportunities that engage them in community activities.
Award-winning WA Universities’ Foundation Program student Lee Dayoon was the first to take part in the program when she visited West Leeming Primary School this week.
Science teachers Tony Herbert and Simon Maddy attended with Dayoon to introduce the young students to microscopy.
In the 90-minute session, students learnt how to identify and describe the different parts of a microscope before using it to observe things such as crystals of sugar, onion cells, pollen grains, human hair and ants.
Dayoon, who was a joint winner of the 2022 Doug Russell Award as Canning’s outstanding WAUFP students, along with Micayla Han Qi Yi, was a great contributor to the session, helping the groups of students to conduct their tasks.
“It was nice to be able to help out and to show the young students some interesting science activities,” said Dayoon, who is from South Korea.
“I like the idea of being able to interact with members of the community and to be involved in something that feels important to the students.”
The West Leeming Primary School session was part of an ongoing collaborative partnership between Canning College, Curtin Universities and local schools.
Each visit will involve Canning College students engaging with members of the community in a voluntary capacity. Student volunteers are presented with a certificate from Canning College as a recognition of their contribution in extracurricular activities.
Science Specialist Mrs Charu Sharma from West Leeming Primary School was pleased with the activity.
“Our Year 5 students were highly motivated and engaged throughout the lessons prepared for them,” she said. “I greatly appreciate your time and effort and look forward to future collaboration.”
Mr Herbert was pleased with the inaugural activity.
“This is just one of many ways international students can engage in community activities,” he said. “It’s important that our students, who come from many parts of the world, feel genuinely connected to their studies and the place in which they have chosen to live.
“This initiative is a great way to connect students with the community through volunteering and we look forward to continuing this project in 2022.”
