Hi Ho Hi Ho its off to work we go!

.... yes our Beyond Borders group is off on a new 'adventure'!
.......a "BeyondBordersAdvennnntuuuuuuure"! (I'm not to sure how many people can relate to that one besides my mom, brother and Cassandra- but this would be said in a triumphant tone, escalating into a high note at the end... TRY IT sometime! if feels great!)

I must admit this title is a bit deceiving, as we really weren't set out to do work - we were set out to learn and hopefully in turn grow. And all of this would be done through reciprocity. On Monday January 10th we, the Beyond Borders group, headed to the working center. 

To begin to explain what exactly the working center IS I will tell you a short, real story...a story about my first step towards learning just what the working center was about for myself. 

My story starts on the first day of our Beyond Borders class (2nd one) on January 10th. A group of my classmates and myself were headed towards the Working Center in ... dun dun dun .... Kitchener (the dun dun dun - is only used to illustrate how many people view Kitchener, myself often included!). My feelings, as I approached the Working Center were: I LOVE new experiences, I LOVE volunteering... but do I have time to do MORE volunteering (I currently volunteer as a coach for special olympics, with the athletic department and am co-president of a volunteer club on campus - Right To Play) I entered the experience with an open mind towards a new volunteer opportunity. I knew the working center was designed to primarily provide resources to assist persons who need assistance, often the 'down-and-out'. But this place was beautiful. We first sat down in the working center cafe "Queen Street Commons Cafe", where we were serenaded by delightful aromas and beautiful music. the story really ends and climaxes in seeing that this beautiful music is being played by a man (not to jump to conclusions) who I would presume is living on the streets (it was later confirmed that this man was to some degree at least - homeless). WOW. 
I am not much of a story teller but I am sure you could relate to a feeling of surprise and shock in seeing that this beautiful music was coming from a man who was living on the street.
Without a single word this man told me the story of the working center.
The working center is a place where any person of any religion, culture, socio-economic status and facing any type of hardship can feel at home, welcomed, accepted and understood. While the working center creates many welcoming social environments such as the cafe and St. Johns Soup Kitchen it also provides opportunity for development and growth. 


And its doing that! and doing it well! 


I left the working center inspired by a man who many may judge as "down and out". 
And left ready to start on a new volunteer experience! 







If you want to discover the working center for yourself or becoming involved here's a good link to get you started! :) http://www.theworkingcentre.org/