Giving Back Through BACS: Meet Shaniya Vance
Cape Breton University students know the importance of giving back to their 福利免费在线看. For Bachelor of Arts Community Studies (BACS) student, Shaniya Vance, the inclination was only natural after moving back to Sydney after a few years away from home.聽
鈥淵ou could say I didn鈥檛 have the typical path from high school directly to CBU,鈥� Shaniya explains. 鈥淎fter beginning my education at another university and then moving back home to take a year off, I decided to enrol at CBU to be closer to my family and save money.鈥澛�
It was the Sport and Physical Activity Leadership (SPAL) program that initially caught Shaniya鈥檚 eye, but after applying her transfer credits, Shaniya was also able to incorporate her interest in psychology and is now a BACS student with a double major in psychology and SPAL. Shaniya says although she didn鈥檛 come to CBU with much background knowledge on the BACS program, it has become one of the most rewarding parts of her education.聽
鈥淢y favourite part of the BACS program is the experiential learning component,鈥� says Shaniya. 鈥淔rom the very first-year students are required to select a 福利免费在线看 issue, conduct research, prepare a study or action project and actually go out into the 福利免费在线看 and execute it.鈥� Shaniya鈥檚 project, Kits for a Cause, is a great example of the difference CBU students can make in their 福利免费在线看.聽
After securing a $750 grant from , a program that provides funding for young Canadians looking to make a difference in their hometowns, Shaniya put together kits for the . Shaniya used her funds to purchase winter wear, personal and feminine hygiene products, snacks and more. She also reached out to DivaCup, and the company donated 30 DivaCups to her project, valuing approximately $1200. With support from CBU Recreation and Peggy Gordon鈥檚 prayer group, Shaniya was able to add even more supplies to her kits before dropping them off at the Centre.聽
Shaniya says after completing a work placement with Under One Umbrella CBRM earlier in her degree, she felt she had the necessary knowledge and resources to help those in need here in Cape Breton. 鈥淚 felt this was a much-needed project in our 福利免费在线看. Not-for-profit organizations like the Every Women鈥檚 Centre can really benefit from 福利免费在线看 support,鈥� she says.聽
Wanda Earhart, director of the Every Women鈥檚 Centre says she was thrilled to be part of this project and couldn鈥檛 thank Shaniya enough for supporting the organization. 鈥淒onations like this really support us in being able to offer services to the women who come into the Centre,鈥� says Wanda.聽
For Shaniya, the project was about much more than a grade. 鈥淚 feel like this project really helped shape my potential career path and taught me how much I enjoy helping others,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 express how much project-based learning is important for university students.鈥�
Learn more about CBU’s BACS Program