Written by: Moni Kim, Board Member
Until I participated in the summer intern program at Toronto City Mission, I had only learned in class about the statistics of children growing up in poverty in Ontario and the unwritten histories of neglect, abuse, malnutrition, early childhood disadvantage, and discrimination underlying the circumstances of those impacted by poverty. I was an undergraduate student in the Child and Family Studies program at the University of Guelph. As a young adult seeking out a career path that would have an impact, TCM’s summer internship was one of the few experiential learning programs offered. It was a unique opportunity to share my faith and skills outside of my church community for the first time.
My time serving as a summer mission intern was formative. I had the chance to serve two different communities in Toronto, Willowtree and St James Town, and saw the diversity of people, culture, and challenges affecting the two neighbourhoods. I got to know children and adults beyond the statistics, dispelling misconceptions of individual blame of the “poor”. It deepened my understanding of issues affecting those impacted by poverty and my sense of responsibility in addressing them. I got to tangibly learn how to “love my neighbour” by getting the chance to form relationships with children and families on a personal level and share my time, skills, and resources in a reciprocal way. I also learned to work in a team with fellow interns where we honed our skills in leadership, communication, and creative programming. The internship provides young people with experiential opportunities to learn how to apply their faith in real-world contexts and develop skills while having an opportunity to address needs in the community.
TCM’s mission to build loving relationships to bring hope to children and families impacted by poverty through God’s transformational power is one I have tried to live out in my own career. The summer internship experience was foundational in directing my career path in community development and social justice work in a local and global context. I have since earned a Master of Public Health degree and have engaged in a variety of critical public health work. This includes HIV prevention and treatment efforts in sub-Saharan Africa, community development with indigenous peoples, incarcerated populations in Canada, North Korean refugees, and elderly seniors living in extreme poverty in Uganda.