STUDENTS: Alternative Reading Week

During Alternative Reading Week (ARW), hundreds of U of T students immerse themselves in three days of volunteering with local community organizations. Students make meaningful contributions, build relationships and learn more about the City of Toronto.

Winter 2022 ARW will have virtual opportunities to make connections in community organizations across Toronto and gain valuable experience.

The theme for ARW is Learn With, Learn From and Grow With.

Learn With encourages participants to respect and appreciate the knowledge held in the communities where we volunteer and come from.
Learn From is a respectful approach to the work that honours reciprocity.
Grow With refers to the continual work of respecting diverse kinds of knowledge and growing in that knowledge.

Program Eligibility
How The Program Works
Roles

You can participate in ARW in three different ways: as a participant, a project leader or as a mentor project leader.

Project leader (Register now on CLNx)

Our community of project leaders make possible over 28 projects every year! Did you enjoy participating in ARW in previous years? Join us again, lead a project and be a part of our community of project leaders! This is an opportunity to get more involved with ARW and develop your leadership skills. We invite you to join us and build your leadership skills, community building skills and have a whole lot of fun along the way.

Mentor project leader (Accepting applications)

Continue to grow with us by sharing your project leader experiences with our new project leaders, and get a chance to work behind-the-scenes to make ARW happen! Mentor project leaders help facilitate training for other project leaders. They share their knowledge and support others as we learn together.

Email Amina Farah at amina.farah@utoronto.ca if you are interested in being a mentor project leader.

Participant (Registration opens November 1, 2021)

Join us for the three days of Winter 2022 Alternative Reading Week! Pick a project, get matched with a group of fellow students and a project leader, and work with one of our community partners either virtually or in person.

Process

Step 1: Register for Alternative Reading Week. Phase 1 of Participant Registration opens November 1, 2021.

Step 2: Once registered, you have an opportunity to pick your own project in January. Projects range from working virtually and supporting senior programs to teaching after-school kids workshops.

These are the four sub-themes for our ARW projects:
- Youth Engagement
- Art-Based Projects
- Planning, Research or Program Support
- Community Engagement and Outreach
Step 3: After you register and select a project, take note of the dates and times for ARW orientation and project participation. Dates and times may be different for each project. Attendance is mandatory.
- Saturday, February 13, 2022: Orientation, 3 – 5 p.m. (virtual). You must be registered in a project to attend orientation.
- Day 1: Tuesday, February 22, 2022
  - Check-in and welcome at (Location: TBA) 10 – 11:30 a.m.
  - Participate in projects and reflection, 6-hour day (times may vary depending on project needs)
- Day 2: Wednesday, February 23, 2022: Participate in projects and reflection, 6-hour day (times may vary depending on project needs)
- Day 3: Thursday, February 24, 2022: Participate in projects and reflection, 6-hour day (times may vary depending on project needs)
Program Registration
Considerations & Exceptions
Your participation in ARW not only deepens your sense of community on campus, but through it you may also:
- Work collaboratively with a group of other U of T students.
- Apply and develop your unique skills and knowledge.
- Engage with social dynamics and issues in our city.
- Contribute positively to a community-identified priority.
- Explore your identity and perspectives as they relate to the broader Toronto community.
- Build your resume and your Co-Curricular Record (CCR).