Nandinzaya Bulgankhangai Contributor

Lately, I’ve been reminiscing about my childhood a lot. Whenever I recall the summers I spent swimming and the winters I passed sledding with my family, nostalgia hits me like a cold rain. I was raised by my grandparents and grew up alongside my cousins. I am not used to the sense of loneliness and disconnection that Toronto has gifted me. So, whenever my old memories leave me with an intense feeling of melancholy, I look to escape into nature with a new community.

“It can often feel daunting to live in our world. Connecting with each other and nature during our events not only provides us with great emotional support but also reminds us of what truly matters to us. Being a part of SMC Village has let me create a community where people can share aspects of who they are and look at sustainability from a very honest and personal perspective.” said Manuela Molina, Director of Events at SMC Village. “A Person Through Person”

In an era of digital walls and increasing amounts of existential alienation, we need smaller communities more than ever. Contemporary Western ideology proclaims that the path to success stems from withdrawal from social connection, the lonely genius working tirelessly in solitude, but we all know that is the furthest thing from the truth. We desperately need midnight hangouts, movie dates, and club events to survive in this cutthroat world. Our friends, family, and other human beings nurture our best qualities and drive us to achieve our dreams.

In an interview with the Vice-President of SMC Village, Rolynn notes the importance of community connection:

Spending my most formative years in beautiful British Columbia, I fostered a deep appreciation for the outdoors. The mountains, the ocean, and the forests are all a feat of nature—one that is incomparable to anything manmade. Coming to Toronto and spending a considerable amount of time away from greenery has helped me realize just how fundamental nature is to our well-being. This notion, coupled with my love for community, inspired my friends and me to start SMC Village. Within a village, everyone depends on one another and coexists with the outdoors. This sense of community is one that we hope to grow within our school. By creating a village, we can reconnect with each other and with nature.

My favourite saying comes from Ubuntu, an African philosophy of life: I am who I am because you are who you are. It teaches us that we are “a person through person”—that our identities and purpose are defined and affirmed by others. However, today we lack those very communities that make up our sense of self and belonging. It is then no wonder why so many young adults in the twenty-first century are feeling lost and isolated even with the increased digital interaction.

Community Is Sustainability Itself

SMC Village is an environmental club, so you may be wondering how a village contributes to the environment. But it has everything to do with it! Community is the antidote to our deeply individualistic and materialistic society. Becoming more sustainable requires more than just a few good habits. We need radical transformation in all parts of our life that decentres human activity. Thus, having a safe space to share our stories and discuss our environmental efforts is a crucial part of our fight.

Violette, Treasurer for SMC Village, says, “The importance of connecting with nature is easily lost in the midst of a big city like Toronto, so having an outlet where I can step back for a moment and remember how indebted we are to the environment is very important to me.”

“Joining this club has made me aware of how to be more mindful of our planet and loving towards the things our ecosystem has to offer us. To think outside the box when it comes to keeping sustainable,” said Madison, Secretary for SMC Village.

The first step to adopting a more sustainable lens is to prioritize our well-being by spending more time in nature, away from distraction and devices. In realizing the value that nature brings to our lives—its free services of food, water, and air—we will be more inclined to change our lifestyle and endorse sustainability. That is why all SMC Village club events are held in nature, away from the city, to create an opportunity for students to take a break while appreciating nature.

“I like SMC Village specifically because all our club activities are centered around appreciating nature. We always make sure to link everything back to what truly matters—acknowledging what’s been given to us on a silver platter and discussing how we can protect it better.” added Dorus, another Secretary for SMC Village.

Cyrus, Director of Outreach for SMC Village, reminisced on what nature means to him: “My journey toward environmental appreciation started early in the deserts and mountains of Dubai, where I grew up. From the age of four, camping created this incredible bond with nature that became the foundation for everything else. Those childhood memories and the humanitarian trips I took across Africa, like to Zambia and Rwanda, instilled how essential it is to take care of our planet.

After opening our club, I now know that the nostalgia I was feeling was not for my childhood but for what it entailed: riding horses, wrestling in the sand, having snow fights, playing under the sunset, and so much more. I was the closest to nature when I was little, and maybe that’s exactly what I need to survive at U of Tears. For all my fellow students feeling the same, our village will be waiting for you! Let’s save the planet while building a community and unforgettable memories. Our mission statement says it best: SMC Village is a community for coexistence, nurturing, and healing.”