Meet Dip Habib, East Scarborough Storefront, Co-ordinator of Volunteer Department

Dip Habib at Local Spring Planting (Photo: Arthur Beauregard)

A unique community centre, the East Scarborough Storefront allows 35 community agencies to provide a wide range of services to 5,000 people each month. With more than 300 active volunteers, most of them youth, the centre is a powerful force in the neighbourhood. In 2009, a core group of about 30 youth started working with Evergreen on small greening projects at the site and also planted 200 trees at the adjacent Morningside Park.

This June, they returned to plant an additional 800 wildflowers and shrubs.

What difference has it made to the neighbourhood? I’ve seen how people are re-discovering the area – getting out into the ravine more, taking pride in their community garden plots as they learn. It builds community and a sense of ownership, and helps to transform this underserved area. Local apartment-dwellers have appreciated the new green space in place of a rusty old water tower.

What motivates the community to get involved in greening? They’ve got a high interest in the environment and greening their neighbourhood. They like to learn. The hands-on experience helps connect them to the Earth.

What inspires you? When the volunteers come back and bring their friends and family–the pool just keeps growing! I hear from some parents that their kids are becoming more responsible and talk about their experiences. We really value what they bring.

What are the youth taking away? In their own words: “It was totally enjoyable and a fun learning experience.” “It was something new.” “I learned how to plant trees properly, which was great.”

Memorable moment: When digging a deep hole for one of the trees last year, some youth found bones. Fortunately, there was nothing sinister and they turned out to be just animal bones of some sort!