Mar. 26, 2026
What began as a lunchtime club and evolved into a locally designed course, students at
Clarence Sansom School are taking learning beyond the classroom in teacher Su'di Galbeti's Human and Social Services class.
A highlight of the course was a visit to a Silvera seniors residence, where students spent time with residents through conversation, music and shared activities. The experience helped students connect their classroom discussions about empathy, inclusion and community responsibility to real-life relationships.
Khaleel G. remembers forming a friendship with a resident who rarely received visitors.
“I realized I wanted to keep visiting so he wouldn't feel alone," he says.
The course encourages students to think critically about the world around them and their collective responsibility. Zainab S., who first joined the lunchtime club that inspired the course, says it helped her better understand current events and her role in creating change.
“This course helped me see problems differently and showed me how I, as an individual, can take steps to make a difference," says Zainab.
Building on these experiences, students are now participating in the
Be an Upstander program through the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, developing projects that take action in their communities. At Clarence Sansom, students are planning initiatives focused on issues such as climate justice, Indigenous land rights, food insecurity and access to healthcare.
“Seeing how big this problem is made me realize I needed to speak up," says student Jacob P.
Their work reflects a powerful lesson: meaningful change often begins with small acts of connection - whether that's starting a conversation, building understanding or spending time with someone who needs it.
