By: Haldis Toppen, Work and Travel Cultural Outreach Coordinator
On Tuesday, August 20th CCI Greenheart’s Work and Travel department hosted a Greenheart Project at Xochiquetzal Peace Garden in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. Participants from Ghana and Bosnia and Herzegovina volunteered alongside American co-workers from the W Hotel in Chicago and community members of Pilsen.
Activities included weeding, repairing the garden, planting flowers, and doing a creative project that included dying t-shirts with marigolds! After a successful day in the garden with Americans and other international students from the W Hotel in Chicago, this is what Maame Birago Owusu-Ansah (Ghana) had to say about her experience with the Summer Work Travel program, “I like the Work and Travel program because you get to meet a lot of people; the experience is great. You get to exchange cultures. You get to understand people better, because of the work experience. And it is just a lovely experience, so I love it.” Maame works with three other participants at the W Hotel in Chicago.
Watch this video to see the fun and excitement that was explored in the garden.
This Greenheart Project wouldn’t have been a success without the support and attendance of CCI Greenheart CEO Laura Rose, community organizer Irene Vitullo from Xochiquetzal and all the green thumbs in the garden that day.
Go Greenheart!
