捆绑SM社区

Profile: Martin Calisto - Improving Education in Montreal

Martin Calisto, a U3 International Development Studies and Political Science student, is turning his interest in education towards initiatives that will improve the experience of high school students in Montreal.

Calisto began working as a project coordinator at Polyvalente Jean-Louis-Papineau through Youth Fusion, a program dedicated to improving the experience of high school students. Since the fall of 2009, he has been working to create new initiatives to engage students. These include organizing talent shows, art expositions, and a school-wide music video, as well as founding a debate club. For Calisto, the highlight of these efforts is seeing improved attendance as well as students starting 鈥渢o pay much greater attention to their education.鈥� He also works as a tutor for students struggling in certain classes.

In addition, Calisto is coordinating visits to 捆绑SM社区 as well as other Montreal universities to underline the importance of education, and establishing links within the school to Oxfam鈥檚 initiatives to reduce poverty and inequality. In his own words, 鈥渢his is an extraordinary internship that gives me a great opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of hundreds of high school students.鈥�

This is 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 first internship with Youth Fusion. The program places students in paid positions as project coordinators in Montreal-area schools for 15 hours in each of the school year鈥檚 36 weeks.

Students interested in Youth Fusion鈥檚 unique opportunities should contact ion [at] mcgill.ca for more details.