Welcome to Student Group Spotlight! Every month, we will feature a different student group to demonstrate the many diverse groups we have at MacEwan and how they all contribute to a vibrant, thriving community on our campus.
Meet the Create for Kids Club! We sat down with their team to discuss how they got started, their club’s positive impact, and how their club has shaped their university experiences.
SAMU: Hi, welcome to the SAMU Student Groups Spotlight! Let’s get started by telling me a bit about yourselves.
Amanni: Hi, I’m Amanni Chaaban. I’m a fourth-year bachelor of Science student majoring in Psychology and doing a double minor in Chemistry and Business Studies. I am also the President of Create for Kids!
Louise: Hi, I’m Louse Sison. I’m a fourth-year bachelor of science student majoring in Biology and minoring in Psychology. I just recently joined the group and am the Vice President of Events.
Akaysha: Hi, I’m Akaysha. I’m in my fourth year of a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Sociology and minoring in Psychology. I’m also the Vice President of Events.
Maher: Hi, I’m Maher Al Rayess, a Bachelor of Science student and Vice President of Create for Kids.
Ayesha: Hi, I’m Ayesha Hashmi. I’m in my third year as a Bachelor of Science student and the Vice President of External of Create for Kids.
Ryan: Hello, I’m Ryan. I’m a third-year Commerce student majoring in Business Management with a minor in Finance.
SAMU: It’s nice to meet you all! Can you tell me what Create for Kids is and what you do?
Amanni: Create for Kids is a student-led organization dedicated to giving back to the community meaningfully and wholeheartedly. Our mission is to give students opportunities to contribute through volunteering, helping them gain valuable experience and obtain volunteering hours while building connections with organizations like the Stollery Children’s Hospital. I also spoke to the YMCA and some local senior organizations at the Career Fair, with whom we plan to work. Our goal is to bring people together and foster a sense of unity and service, creating a full-circle impact that benefits both students and the communities they serve.
Akaysha: We provide a great way to give back to your community and interact with your peers. We just hosted a bake sale where students could sit down for a few minutes and create a card. It’s a great way to give back and get volunteer hours since making cards doesn’t take too long, but it has a big impact.
Ayesha: Yeah, often in hospitals, especially pediatric wards, you don’t see or hear about volunteering too much, so I think we have a lovely initiative here. When I was talking with the Grey Nuns Hospital about Create for Kids, they were amazed. They don’t really have organizations like that within the Hospital and Care facilities, so they were excited to hear about something new that is needed and would greatly benefit their patients.
SAMU: That sounds lovely. Why did you decide to join Create for Kids? What has been your favourite part about being a member so far?
Amanni: Create for Kids initially started in America, and they have a lot of chapters throughout there, but I saw there was nothing in Canada, so I decided I’d bring it here. We are the first Canadian chapter, and some other universities have followed in our footsteps and brought chapters to other provinces. I started this group because I have Scoliosis, so I was in the Stollery a lot as a kid, and after I had my surgery for the spinal fusion, I was there for a while, and it was tough. I felt really powerless and defeated, and it was a challenging environment to be in. But I remember there was a younger girl in the room with me who went through the same surgery, and seeing how it affected her, I put my pain aside to try and help uplift and encourage her. I was doing my best to put a smile on her face and the faces of the others in the room, and the power of being positive, kind, and smiling really healed our souls. Because of this, I wanted to expand this group to touch and resonate with as many people as possible. On campus, I saw the need for students to gain volunteer hours, as it’s challenging to do during school when you dedicate most of your time to classes, studying and work. Then, you need volunteer hours on record to apply for work opportunities, so it’s a stressful time. When I learned about the group in America, I decided I wanted to bring it here because not only could we help students gain volunteer hours, but they would also be meaningful. They’re going to feel fulfilled knowing there is someone on the other end of their act of kindness who knows that someone out there cares about them and is thinking about them in their time of need. My favourite memory so far is the Student Group Expo. Seeing everyone come out and want to join our team was amazing. We are growing so fast; we already have over 150 members, not including people outside MacEwan, so it’s been incredible to see that growth.
Ayesha: Amanni reached out to me and told me about the club, and I thought it sounded amazing. I had already volunteered with some hospitals and saw a lot of potential in the idea and how it could grow into something bigger. It’s not just Cards for Kids, but so much more like making someone’s Hospital visit a little less sad. Usually, Hospital visits aren’t fun, and your child doesn’t want to be there, so having positivity in a space like this is really influential. Coordinating with the Grey Nuns Hospital to make an impact there has been my favourite memory so far.
Louise: I’m a nursing ambassador at the Misericordia Hospital, so I’m always there. I see how our senior patients feel more isolated and have low spirits. So, when I saw a post about this club, I knew I had to join. I appreciate that everyone in this group has the same mindset of being passionate about giving back to the community and creating a positive environment, not just for people in the Hospital but for people in school and society.
Ryan: I joined because I wanted to find a way to get more involved in a community that is dedicated to making a positive impact on others. I saw a way where I could add value to the group and the kids we support by leveraging my skills and experiences as a photographer and videographer to bring more awareness to our mission. And that I could also contribute to meaningful experiences and learn from others. My favourite part about being a member is the excitement and joy I get from seeing people come together to help others. The kindness and dedication of the team have truly inspired me and reminded me of the importance of compassion and kindness. I’m proud to be a part of this team and to have found a way to contribute above and beyond in my unique way.
Akaysha: I joined because I was at the Student Groups Expo and started making a card that reminded me of my family. They were in the Hospital a while ago, and someone dropped off a random card that made my cousin light up in excitement. So when I saw that MacEwan has a group doing that, I knew I had to be a part of it. My favourite memory so far has been the bake sale; it was nice to see people come together as a community.
Maher: I heard about the group from Amanni and joined while she got approvals and worked to set up the group. I’m passionate about pursuing a career in healthcare and giving back to the community, whether it’s through volunteering or bringing people together, so I knew that I had to join. It’s great to be a part of something bigger than ourselves and do something meaningful for people in hospitals, knowing we can help put a smile on their faces and make their day. We have a great team, and the amount of people getting involved in the group is overwhelming; in a good way, it makes us happy knowing we’re off to a good start, and it’s only upward from here. My favourite memory was the Student Groups expo. I was there for both days, and it was an awesome experience seeing students gather around the table and get involved.
SAMU: What kind of students are you looking for to join your group?
Amanni: We have no expectations for members of our group. We aren’t expecting everyone to follow the same healthcare paths as us. We are only looking for students with clear, positive minds and good intentions. Everyone is welcome, and we even expanded it outside of MacEwan. We promote opportunities on our social media and WhatsApp that anyone can contribute to.
SAMU: What kind of opportunities does your group offer to contribute to the community?
Amanni: When we connected with the Stollery, we created a relationship through which we can bridge volunteer opportunities. We’ll give our members access to working in hospitals or contributing in another way. I see a lot of potential in making connections with various groups, and my goal is to provide as many opportunities as possible for our members.
Akaysha: Yeah, our group is constantly expanding, and it’s fantastic to have different and diverse people coming together to make that possible.
SAMU: Tell me about your bake sale fundraiser. How many cards did your team write for kids?
Amanni: At our bake sale, we partnered with the Stollery, and they provided us with stickers, banners, posters and more. Every dozen food items you brought to sell were worth 30 minutes of volunteering, and we had so many members contribute that it was crazy. We even had students create over 250 cards!
Akaysha: I was there the whole time, talking with people and seeing them create cards, and it was amazing to watch our group and think about what we started.
Amanni: We raised over $1000 at the bake sale and plan on donating funds and using some for future events like our art drive. For the art drive, we plan to make art supply bags and gift them to children in the Hospital so they can have fun activities.
SAMU: Wow, that sounds like a great success! What other events have you hosted?
Louise: Another event we hosted was the collab with the Muslim Student Organization for a Sisters Night! I led the organization for this event, and it was super fun; we had bracelet making, painting and other arts and crafts, and it was so lovely to see everyone having a good time and meeting new people.
Amanni: Yeah, the environment there was so comfortable and friendly; I got to meet a lot of girls and feel more connected in school, which is a plus since university life can be isolating. Regardless of your culture, it was a place to come together, express yourself, connect and learn more about others.
SAMU: How has being involved in this Student Group shaped your university experience?
Lousie: Being in this group has allowed me to contribute to something bigger than myself and find fulfillment outside academic work.
Akaysha: I used to be solely focused on academics, so when I joined this group, I found it was a nice way to give back and connect with peers. This group is close to home for me, so it’s been great to find a new social life outside academics. Everyone in this group is so amazing, kind and warm-hearted; it’s lovely to be a part of it.
Ayesha: Yeah, this group reinforced my faith in humanity. It’s so beautiful to see how this idea blossomed into something bigger. Through the connections we’ve made, we have been able to make an impact in an area that was previously untouched, and I think that’s really beautiful. Personally, I’ve been able to get out of my comfort zone more when it comes to coordinating with organizations since that’s new to me, and I’m really enjoying it and excited for what’s next.
Maher: Being in my last year at MacEwan, I haven’t done too much volunteering so having this opportunity to step in and bring together the community and work with people on and off campus has been inspiring. It helped to shape and push me forward to realize how much you can do with so little. This experience not only shapes us as members but inspires people who get involved with us. We’ve had so many people contribute their time and ideas, and it’s motivating us to see so many people help and get out of their comfort zones.
Amanni: This group helped me to grow as a leader and step up to my position. It helped me refine my skills, become more organized, and unlock a new level for myself, especially when it comes to communication. I’m more confident now in myself, and I’ll be able to take the skills I’ve gained with me moving forward. Since I want to be a Doctor, this position has helped me learn how to be even more compassionate, professional and communicative when working with external groups.
Ryan: This group has been an outlet for me to give back to my community, meet new people, expand my horizons, refine my skill sets and more. I used to be a Stollery kid, and growing up, someone gave me a card that I still keep on my desk, so I really valued the pure intentions of this group and found that it’s been a good way for me to connect and give back.
SAMU: What would you say to someone considering joining a student group?
Amanni: Put that doubt aside and go talk to someone! Have that moment of courage to take a step and be like, hey, what’s your group about? You just have to find the courage to get over that nervousness or fear and just do it.
Akaysha: Yeah, you just need to take that first step because there are so many different groups out there. If one group doesn’t work for you, others will work great for you. And I have to advocate; the community that we have going here is pretty good.
Louise: Go for it! Don’t worry about whether the experience will be good or bad, but focus on the fact that you are putting yourself out there and taking the first step. You never know who you might meet, and the value of building connections has been a great skill to have.
Amanni: Yeah, you’ll never know if you don’t try!
Ayesha: Just come to one of our events. There’s no doubt you’ll enjoy it and be inspired to join.
Maher: Yeah, you won’t regret joining. If you are nervous about joining, remember that other students feel exactly like you. There are so many wonderful groups on campus, and we’ll be happy if you check us out. If we don’t fit, check out another group!
Amanni: If you are nervous, reach out to us on Student Groups Connect or our socials, and we’d love to chat with you. And, when you come to our events, show up with good intentions and positivity. Showing up makes all the difference, we’d love your presence there.
You can connect with MUDC on social media through @createforkidsmacewan
Follow SAMU on social media through Instagram (@sa_macewan), Twitter (@SAMacEwan), and Facebook (Students’ Association of MacEwan University) to stay up to date on the latest events, programs, and services from your students’ association.
