When I first thought about this project, I wasn’t thinking about organizing an event. I was thinking about people in my community.
My parents are home builders, so I’ve learned that regular maintenance can save homeowners a lot of money. But I noticed that many newcomers, especially seniors and women who own homes, didn’t know what to check or when to maintain their houses. Sometimes a small problem could turn into a very expensive repair simply because people didn’t know about it.
I thought maybe I could help by inviting someone who has professional knowledge to explain these things in a simple way. With my mom’s support, I invited Eric, a home maintenance expert, and applied for a Neighbourhood Small Grant. Lighthouse Youth & Women Society also helped promote the workshop and recruit participants and youth volunteers.
Before the event, I was nervous because I didn’t know if anyone would come. I was really happy when about 20 people joined us, and most of them were seniors. During the workshop, I saw many people taking notes and asking lots of questions. It made me feel that the information was useful and that we were helping people solve a real problem.
The biggest thing I learned is that leadership doesn’t always mean doing something big. Sometimes it starts with simply paying attention to your community and asking, “What can I do to help?” I’m grateful that NSG believed in my idea and gave me the opportunity to turn it into reality.
This project showed me that even as a high school student, I can make a positive difference in my community. I hope more young people will look around, notice what their neighbours need, and have the confidence to take the first step. After all, small ideas can create meaningful change.
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