By: Faith Torres

All Nations International Development Agency

School is back, and we’re excited to reconnect with our university partners and communities this season! Last month, we had the opportunity to bring ANIDA to campus at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) Get Experience Fair. Throughout the day, we connected with students, shared more about ANIDA’s work, and had meaningful conversations about what it means to serve alongside communities, both locally and internationally.

The fair was also an opportunity for students to learn about the different ways they can experience being part of the ANIDA community. Whether through volunteering, gaining hands-on experience, learning about community-led development, or simply becoming more familiar with the work happening in communities around the world, we enjoyed sharing what that involvement can look like.

Students stopped by to learn about the ANIDA Food Bank, our international programs, and the communities we partner with in Ghana, Liberia, the Philippines, Jamaica, and South Sudan. Many were curious about how our programs work, where we serve, and how they could gain experience while contributing to their own communities.

What made the day especially meaningful was the opportunity to listen and learn from the students as well. Many shared their own experiences volunteering and supporting nonprofit organizations. A common theme we heard was their desire to help others and continue finding meaningful ways to contribute.

Their enthusiasm was encouraging. It reminded us that there are many people, especially young people, who want to understand the needs around them, get involved, and be part of something that makes a difference.

At ANIDA, we believe community is built through participation. It can look like sharing your time, learning about an issue, showing up for your neighbours, listening to the experiences of others, or supporting work that helps communities create lasting opportunities for themselves.

That is also at the heart of Hope Builders.

Hope Builders brings people together through consistent support for ANIDA’s community-led work in education, health and well-being, and sustainable income. It creates an opportunity to move beyond simply hearing about the challenges communities face and become part of the ongoing work happening alongside them.

Our time at UTSC reminded us that building hope is not something one organization does alone. It grows through conversations, relationships, shared learning, and people choosing to take part.

Whether someone contributes their time, their skills, their voice, or their ongoing support, each form of participation can help strengthen the communities we are connected to.

We’re grateful to the students who stopped by, asked questions, shared their experiences, and took the time to learn more about ANIDA. We look forward to continuing these connections with students and our university partners and creating more opportunities to learn, serve, and build something meaningful together.