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Challenge Yourself...

to discover how easy it is!

Try volunteering for one of the great community service projects here at Olin. We'll make it easy for you: here's a list of all the registered projects, contact info, meeting time, a short description, and a link to the website if they have one.

NOTE: If you are looking for resources: forms, help starting a project, or getting new members, go to the Resources link.

  • Big Brothers, Big Sisters
    • Ellen Chisa
    • Big Brothers Big Sisters is coordinated through an outside organization: Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters. The organization comes to recruit at our club fair- so make sure to check out the table. Initially getting involved involves interviews and background checks, but once you have a Little, you maintain the relationship your entire time in the area (over years).
    • Members eat lunch with an elementary schcool aged student once per week (you pick the day) for about half an hour. You can talk, play games, or help with any work they may need to do.
  • CODA (Computing Opportunities for Disabled Adults)
    • Rachel Nancollas
    • CODA helps adults with disabilities work towards goals of literacy, computer proficiency and job skills in both one-on-one and group learning environments. Volunteers get to have fun, meet more people and make a difference - you could help someone get a job.
  • Engineering Discovery
    • Heena Mutha
    • Teaching elementary school kids different branches of engineering through various interactive projects.
  • Engineers for a Sustainable World
    • Engineers for a Sustainable World is a nonprofit organization with a network of professionals and students working to reduce poverty and improve global sustainability. Through domestic and international development work, education, and public outreach, ESW mobilizes engineers to address the challenges of global poverty and sustainability. Our members and volunteers are building a better future by developing innovative technologies, shaping policy, and fostering small-scale enterprise, improving lives and building a more sustainable world.
    • Join the mailing list to learn more about the group and see who will be leading it in the future! Another similar group which is a CORe Club instead of a Project is "Olin Students for Awesome" or "OSA".
  • FIRST
    • Ashley Walker
    • FIRST is a high-school aged robotics competition that aims to make science and engineering fun, exciting, and popular. The FIRST group at Olin has mentored a team from Hyde Park High School in past years. The group also works with VEX (high school) and Lego (elementary and middle school) Robotics Teams.
  • Habitat For Humanity
    • Leslie Velez
    • Habitat works to provide decent affordable housing for low income families. Volunteers aid in the construction of a house whether it be framing, dry-walling, or painting. The group gets together at least once a month and usually more frequently to go to build sites. Last winter, the group also framed houses indoors.
  • One Laptop per Child
    • Nikki Lee
    • Olin has created a group to participate in the One Laptop Per Child project. Olin College’s OLPC University Chapter will work to develop software and hardware for use with the OLPC laptop, the XO. Development for the XO has been incorporated into several Olin classes for their final projects, and many students on campus are interested in participating in a variety of ways. From hardware and software development, to developing educational content, to promotion and organizing jams, it is easy to get involved in the OLPC project!

     

    • Possible Future Projects:

    Possible New Projects

    Coaching Math and Science Teams

Olin students have suggested that it might be fun to interact with local high schools to coach science and math teams. Interested? Talk to the SERV Board and local schools to propose a project?

Making websites for Nonprofits

It has been suggested that Olin students could use their website building skills to maintain websites for nonprofit organizations.

Library Interaction

The Wellesley Free Library hosted a FBE Team last Spring to teach a little about engineering and demonstrate their project. Want to get out into the community with a cool project? Contact Ellen Chisa or Sarah Allen for contact information.

Olin-Needham Computer Exchange