Our Stories

We received a surprising call from the Government of Ontario this spring to tell us that Student Open Circles won a provincial award. We are grateful to the Welcome Inn Community Centre staff who, without our knowledge, went to extraordinary lengths to nominate SOC.

By Jessica Pettigrew, parent of children in the LAF Afterschool program.

I am a parent of three children who attend the LAF program at the Welcome Inn. My children have built strong and engaging relationships with the Student Open Circles volunteers year after year.

By Annie Jia, Open Circle student

The LAF afterschool program is my favourite SOC volunteer group so far. It is the highlight of my weeks. It brought me back to my childhood, since I can relate to a lot of the youth. I grew up in a similarly disadvantaged area, Toronto Jane & Finch with a highly unstable home.

By James Vanderberg, Executive Director, Welcome Inn Community Centre

Since 2001, Student Open Circles has partnered with the Welcome Inn, coordinating dozens of volunteers each year for our Learning ...

Give a gift that changes lives. Our unique charity gifts are perfect as a special gift for loved ones. Ideal for ‘someone who has everything,’ those hard-to-buy-for friends and loved ones ...

Student Open Circles is responding to overwhelming needs during this difficult time in our world and local communities. Homelessness, food insecurity, and mental health challenges continue to rise in Hamilton ...

I cannot ...

One recent immigrant high school student attended another virtual homework club during the COVID lock-down. When that went back to in-person, they could no longer attend because of work schedule ...

I have always believed that ...

Multiple weekly groups at each program!

Conversation Corners (Compass Community Health)

Assisting with reading, writing, speaking, listening, and providing translation at a literacy program for newcomer populations and English language ...

Since our beginning in 2001, kindness, love, and respect for diversity have guided Student Open Circles. In our world today, this is more urgent than ever; to let love feed ...

By Julia Gallant, student

To love and accept yourself is a powerful thing. For a long time, it seemed like an unattainable goal. A fantasy ...