Commitment to the Community with Melanie Katsivo, PhD
One of Ghandi’s famous proverbs: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world” resonates with Melanie Katsivo, PhD, research officer, as she volunteers for a third time with Western Serves.
Katsivo expresses that Western Serves is a way that the University fulfils its social responsibility as an important stakeholder in the London community.
“As a proud Schulich Medicine & Dentistry and Western employee, it is my personal obligation to contribute to this part of the mission,” Katsivo said.
The Western Serves event had about 350 Western students, faculty and staff, who volunteered at twenty-nine local community organizations. From fall cleaning and painting, to cooking and more, Western Serves volunteers spent an afternoon helping partner organizations with various tasks.
Katsivo led a team that volunteered at the Junior Achievement Company of London & District (JAC).
As part of Katsivo’s team, students, faculty and staff were tasked with preparing rooms, program kits and resources for up-coming, in-class and after-school Junior Achievement programs.
“It was an eye-opening experience for all of us, and even though the JAC already collaborates with the Ivey Business School we suggested that they could reach out to the wider student body across campus,” Katsivo explained.
“London cannot be a suitable place to grow, live, study, work and play in, if members of the community do not actively contribute to ensuring the development of the city,” said Katsivo.
