AUK Hosts 7th Annual Awareness Week

The Office of Student Life at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) organized its 7th Annual Awareness Week. Each day of the Awareness Week concentrated on a specific topic, including Self Awareness, Community Outreach Awareness and Political Awareness.

The first day included an interactive Self-Awareness Workshop, coordinated by the Office of Student Life, Center for Career Services and Wellness and the Psychology Department at AUK. The workshop aimed at getting students together from different backgrounds, as well as helping them define 'Who They Are'. "It's entertaining and beneficial at the same time. It makes me want to attend more workshops in the future," said Dana Maan, an AUK freshman. AUK students also had the chance to sign the 'I AM' banner placed in the central hallway in an effort to help students gain self-awareness.

The second day saw the AUK Volunteers Program, organize 'Refuse to be Ordinary.' The program is an attempt to provide students with the information and the opportunity they need to be significant contributors to the Kuwaiti community through service. Participating organizations included KACCH, K's Path, EQUAIT, Kuwait Society for the Handicapped, Operation Hope, Sout Al-Kuwait, En.v and the Voice for Success Program.

The second day also featured Community Outreach Presentations by En.V and Sout Al-Kuwait. Elisa Franceschinis, Program Coordinator at En.V, introduced the students to the Voice for Success program was initiated by En.V to give greater visibility to social activists who are trying to make a positive impact on their society and community. The program seeks to strengthen civil society in Kuwait through the promotion of innovative initiatives by Kuwaiti youth in the fields of social responsibility, empowerment, and development amongst others. She introduced the students to the various initiatives that the program had covered over the year.

This was followed by a presentation on Sout Al-Kuwait. Ahmad Al Gharabally from Sout Al-Kuwait, spoke to students about the work they do and the importance of being engaged in civic and political life. He also stressed the importance of political participation, and shared the 2012 Awareness Campaign for Parliament Elections, Tafreq.

The Awareness Week extended to include two main events: K'S PATH volunteer trip and KAACH Orientation and Training; both took place on Saturday, October 20th. Over 80 students visited the K'S PATH shelter, located in Al-Wafra, during an open day organized by the shelter. Students had the chance to see the premises and interact with K'S PATH staff, volunteers and animals. Students learnt about the different animals housed at the shelter, how they were rescued, how they are being taken care of, as well as adoption and sponsoring procedures. Many students also took the opportunity to take many of the dogs for a walk around the premises. A lot of students also made donations in kind to the shelter, promoted by the Refuse to Be Ordinary volunteering event held earlier the week.

In addition, there were more than 60 students who attended the KAACH orientation and training following the 34 students who have filled an application form to volunteer at KACCH at the volunteer fair, held earlier on Monday. The orientation provided volunteers with information about KACCH's activities, expectations of volunteers and volunteer duties.

The mission of the Office of Student Life is to create a campus environment that engages students with lifelong learning opportunities outside the classroom which provide personal, professional, ethical, and intellectual growth. Along with AUK's mission of providing students with knowledge, self-awareness and personal growth experiences that can enhance critical thinking, effective communication and respective for diversity, it is our hope that through this week we will be able to fulfill our mission.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 6th November 2012