As many students here at Bates are already aware, Bates is part of the larger Lewiston-Auburn community, a community full of wonderful people, organizations, and opportunities to get involved. While we spend much of our time on campus attending classes, studying, and participating in different activities, there is so much happening beyond the Bates bubble. From volunteering at local schools to working with community organizations and supporting local events, there are many ways for Bates students to get involved and contribute to the community we call home during our college years.

Community Outreach Fellows and Bonner students volunteering at Gather to Grow during a retreat

One thing we need to know is that volunteering is not just about giving back to a community that has welcomed us into its midst. It is also about meeting new people, building relationships, learning from others, and gaining experiences beyond the classroom. Still, with our busy college schedules, finding the time or knowing where to start can sometimes be challenging.

So, we reached out to four Bates seniors who have been involved in community work throughout their time at Bates, and here we will be sharing some advice from the seniors, including myself (Halima). As we prepare for life after college, we share our experiences, lessons learned, and advice for students who are thinking about getting involved. We hope our stories inspire you to explore the opportunities around you and find your own way to connect with the Lewiston-Auburn community!

Halima Guliye ’27 (Biology and Environmental Studies double Major)

Hello! My name is Halima Guliye, and I am an international student from Kenya/Somalia. I am currently a senior at Bates, double majoring in Biology and Environmental Studies with a concentration in Global Environmental Politics. Along with my busy student life, I have been involved in the Lewiston-Auburn community since my first year at Bates. As a Bonner Leader at the Harward Center for Community Partnerships, I have had the opportunity to work with different community organizations, meet wonderful people, and learn so much from their experiences. At first, I was hesitant and honestly didn’t know what to expect, especially being in a new environment far from home. But looking back now, getting involved in the community was one of the best decisions I made at Bates. Thanks to the Harward Center team! The amount of personal growth I have experienced is tremendous. As I prepare to leave Bates and enter the world as a global citizen, I feel more caring, and understanding about people and the world around me. These are lifelong values and skills I will carry with me wherever I go.

Advice to Bates Students

To first-year students and anyone who has been thinking about volunteering but hasn’t started yet, my advice is to just start! I understand how intimidating it can feel because I was once in your position. You don’t need to be a Bonner Leader or be assigned to volunteer. Sign up for community events through the Harward Center, reach out to Bates staff or students who are already involved, or simply tag along with a friend who volunteers and see if it’s something you enjoy. Start small, find something you care about, and give it a try!

To students who are already volunteering, please keep going! I know how busy life at Bates can get, but the time you spend connecting with the community is valuable. Keep showing up and building meaningful relationships. Don’t see volunteering as just another thing to add to your resume, but as an opportunity to grow and contribute to something bigger than yourself. Lewiston-Auburn is growing and changing every day, and the work of building stronger communities is ongoing. Don’t miss out on the chance to add your own contribution, no matter how small! We only get a few years at Bates, so please don’t be a stranger to the wonderful community right outside our campus. There is so much to experience beyond the Bates bubble, so go out, get involved, and make some beautiful memories along the way!

Hazel Handy ’27 (Environmental Studies and Politics Double Major)

Hi everyone! My name is Hazel Handy, and I am a senior in the class of 2027 from Vermont, US. At Bates, I am completing a double major in Environmental Studies and Politics, as well as a minor in Teacher Education.

Figure on the left; Hazel volunteering with We Feed Us, a grassroots community meals initiative in November 2025. Figure on the right; Hazel ‘27, Sivani ‘26, and Mo Awil (Harward Center Staff) at the annual volunteer fair in September 2025.

Advice for New Volunteers:

Sometimes one community engagement experience can change the trajectory of your college career and beyond. For instance, I would not have considered declaring a Teacher Education Minor if I had not been a math tutor for the America Reads/ America Counts (ARAC) program through the Harward Center. I had thought that I did not have the demeanor necessary to be an educator prior to ARAC, but through ARAC I learned that was far from true! In that spirit, I encourage Bates volunteers to cast a wide net and try opportunities that you have no prior experience with. You may be surprised what kinds of community engagement activities are most compatible with your interests, personality, and skills. That being said, community engagement is also a way to broaden your experience in fields that you are already excited about. For example, I first volunteered with We Feed Us and Gather to Grow after already having been professionally engaged with food systems. Lastly, I want to emphasize that community engagement in Lewiston is particularly special. Lewiston is a city of authentic, dynamic, and tight-knit relationships. I advise new volunteers to introduce yourself to as many community members as you can! Building community beyond college parameters is a skill that will follow you for your whole life.

Asha Abdisamad ’27 (Biochemistry Major, Education Minor)

My name is Asha. I am a senior and a Biochemistry major with an Educational Studies minor. I am from Lewiston and am currently a Bonner Leader and senior intern with Chidera. Most of my involvement within the Lewiston community, both as a Bonner Leader and beyond, has been in education, whether in the classroom or through youth advocacy. I’ve also worked with Trinity Jubilee, helping with immigrant integration.

Even though I stayed in the same place, transitioning from high school to Bates was a culture shock. As a Bates student, community engagement was a bit different for me because I already knew a lot of people in Lewiston. But at the same time, it felt incredibly fulfilling to go into the schools and learn about different parts of the community I hadn’t been introduced to before. Through fieldwork for my education classes, I got to make connections and comparisons between my own educational experiences and those of the students I worked with. This also sparked my interest in literacy, leading me to get involved in tutoring at Lewiston Middle School and within the Bates community itself.

If you’re a first-year student, or you’re just trying to get more familiar with the Harward Center and volunteering in Lewiston/Auburn but don’t know where to start, my advice would be to think about things you’ve done back home within your community that you might want to continue, or whether there’s something you’ve learned about in a class that you’d like to explore further. There are so many different areas where you can get involved and make an impact. Go on Community Pulse and just browse through the options! But seriously, start anywhere. It can be on or off campus, and you can always try something new next semester. It’s all about the connections you make and having a positive experience. Take a friend with you for the first time!

Advice to Bates Students

If you’re currently volunteering, love that! As you start applying for internships and thinking about post-grad opportunities, remember that your community engagement experiences can be valuable beyond your time at Bates, too. If you ever need help figuring out how to connect those experiences to your future goals, the Harward Center and the Center for Purposeful Work are great places to start. Who knows, you might discover something new or find a pathway you hadn’t considered before.

Axelle Tougouma ’27 Economics and Math Double major

Hello, I am Axelle Tougouma, class of 2027, Economics and Math Double major. I was born and raised in Burkina Faso, a country once known for its peace and hospitality. However, in 2015, things began to change. Terrorist attacks became increasingly frequent, affecting the lives of many people and forcing families to leave their homes. Growing up, I witnessed displaced families arriving in my hometown, seeking safety and a place to stay. These experiences taught me something important about life and humanity: showing up for one another matters, even in the smallest ways. I saw how people came together to support one another, and how that sense of community made difficult circumstances a little less painful.

Coming to Bates College and joining the Bonner Leadership Program allowed me to continue nurturing this desire to build communities where people support and care for one another.

This time of year reminds me of the tragic mass shooting that took place in Lewiston, Maine, in October 2023. I was a first-year student at Bates, and the news was devastating. I mourned alongside the city, as the tragedy reminded me of the painful stories I had grown up hearing back home. Yet, one thing that struck me, and that I will never forget, was how the Lewiston community showed up for one another.

I remember attending a workshop at Tree Street Youth, where community members gathered to write cards for the victims and their families and engage in conversations about healing and moving forward. Seeing everyone come together reminded me that when times are difficult and things seem to fall apart, a strong community can be a source of strength, comfort, and hope.

I am incredibly grateful to be part of a place like Bates, where we are encouraged not only to focus on academics but also to show up for one another and for the city that has become our home. I now understand why Bates emphasizes community engagement rather than simply community service. Community engagement is not a one-way relationship in which we give and others receive. It is about building meaningful connections, learning from one another, and growing together. Through my experiences in Lewiston, I have not only had opportunities to contribute, but I have also received so much in return: growth, love, support, and a deeper understanding of what it means to belong to a community.

One of my favorite experiences through the Bonner Leadership Program was mentoring a group of girls originally from Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo who attended an after-school program at Lewiston Middle School. During our conversations, I learned that many of them were worried about college and believed that attending college might be impossible for them. It broke my heart to hear how, at such a young age, they had already developed limiting beliefs about their educational opportunities. What saddened me even more was learning that some of them did not know Bates College was just around the corner. I wanted to help change that perception. With the support of the Harward Center and Lewiston Middle School, I organized a college exploration workshop and invited the girls to visit Bates. We talked about the benefits of higher education, explored different academic and career paths, and challenged some of the misconceptions they had about college. By the end of the visit, many of them were amazed by the different possibilities available to them. Seeing their excitement and curiosity was incredibly rewarding. Some of the things they had once considered impossible suddenly felt more achievable. That experience reminded me that being a changemaker does not always require doing something extraordinary. Sometimes, it simply starts with showing up, listening, and having a conversation.

Advice to Bates Students

As I reflect on my time at Bates and in Lewiston, I would love to encourage other Bates students to step outside their comfort zones and get to know the people and communities that make this city so special. There is so much to learn, so much to share, and so many opportunities to make a meaningful difference. Above all, I have learned that community is not just about being in the same place. It is about the relationships we build and the ways we support one another. The world becomes a more beautiful place when we choose to show up for each other.