The CCIP J-1 interns (www.theccip.com) arrived at Cunningham Park on Saturday morning to offer their services to keep the park beautiful. Cunningham Park is one of the largest in Queens and offers sports fields, bike paths, hiking trails, and plenty of wide open space for residents to enjoy.
At over 350 acres, keeping Cunningham Park clean is a massive undertaking that requires the assistance of volunteers. The exchange visitors raked leaves, picked up trash, and assisted generally with park maintenance. Members of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation were also on hand to guide the group and provide insight into the city's sprawling park system.
"The park was so big, I had no idea," Samantha from the Education University of Hong Kong said. "It's really beautiful and so nicely maintained. There are all kinds of facilities throughout the park, and most of the work to keep them clean is done by volunteers like us."
In its efforts to introduce participants to core American values, CCIP offers the exchange visitors opportunities to experience volunteerism. For many of the program's participants, this inspired them to seek out more such opportunities when they return home.
Marilyn from the Chinese University of Hong Kong said, "It felt good to see our effort make a difference. This opportunity to volunteer and take part in the community beyond my internship was really a lot of fun."
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