On Friday, August 30th, the spirit of public service was evident at Harvard College. Over 1,100 volunteers across 65 project sites participated in the 5th annual Global Day of Service, marking a vibrant start to the academic year.

Travis Lovett, Assistant Dean of Civic Engagement and Service at Harvard College, has overseen the event since it scaled up from the First-Year Day of Service in 2019. After the pandemic, Lovett explained, they opened up volunteering opportunities to the entire Harvard community, discovering many ways, ranging from virtual aid support to crowdsourcing resources, to engage with public service and create impact on local communities remotely.

What makes Global Day of Service particularly unique is this hybrid format, which bridges Harvard community members and volunteers from around the world to foster civic engagement. However, it’s not just an opportunity to give back—it also serves as a warm welcome for the Class of 2028, offering them a glimpse into the enduring values rooted in Harvard College's mission.

This year, volunteers—comprising students, staff, and alumni—tackled a variety of projects. Some assisted the City of Boston with a Park and Playground clean-up; helping a K-6 Elementary School to get the facilities ready for the new school year; working with non-profit grocery chain to support store operations by sorting, producing, label, and package foods; assembling care packages and writing letters of appreciation for community health workers; organizing supply drives; developing lesson plans, resource guides, and curriculum; conducting voter registration drives; and organizing social media campaigns.

Before the service from all ensued, Lovett started at 6 a.m. with a flurry of final organizational tasks and crucial communications with partners. Throughout the day, he was backed by a dedicated team of volunteers dubbed the “Troubleshooting Squad.” This team convened early, gearing up for the day ahead by distributing supplies, including the distinctive bright green Global Day of Service t-shirts and materials tailored to each project.

By lunchtime, the Science Center Plaza was bustling with energy as student leaders and project site coordinators began setting up their tables. The program officially launched with inspiring speeches from Lovett and student leaders from PBHA and IOP. Lovett took a moment to express his gratitude, thanking Harvard University Dining Services for preparing over 1,100 lunches for the volunteers and the Harvard Transit Team for ensuring everyone got to and from their sites safely.

He reminded the crowd that Global Day of Service is a collective effort, with teams spanning across the University working together to make the day possible. Hundreds of staff, student leaders, campus partners, and Harvard affiliates work behind the scenes throughout the spring semester prior and summer to ensure the day runs smoothly. Lovett offered a final note of appreciation, "Thank you to Dean Khurana for all of his work in the civic space," before sending volunteers off to their various on- and off-campus service sites.

Project leader Bonnie Talbert, Director of the Harvard College Women's Center and recently appointed Faculty Dean of Eliot House, led work aimed at combating gendered disinformation. Working with 13 volunteers in the Canaday Hall basement, Talbert and team created a resource guide to help college students fact-check and correct misleading information online. Stating that gender-based disinformation creates challenges for women and gender-expansive people who want to take part in politics, Talbert and her colleagues invited volunteers who are passionate about gender equity, politics, and accurate online information to explore resources and collaborate. Expressing the importance of giving back to the community, Talbert stated, “Service is something that everybody should take part in to promote a flourishing democracy and informed citizenship.”

Along with his team, Jonathan Huang ‘26, a Mather House resident and Molecular and Cellular Biology concentrator, led another impactful project with the Harvard Undergraduate UNICEF Club. The non-profit student organization is committed to enhancing the lives of children worldwide and advocating for equitable access to education. For their project, the focus was on assembling 40 backpacks filled with school supplies for Cradles to Crayons, helping students from underprivileged backgrounds prepare for the school year. “At the start of the year, students from lower-income backgrounds often struggle with acquiring school supplies, so UNICEF wanted to play its part in helping provide relief,” Huang wrote.

Reflecting on the significance of the day, Huang added, “Global Day of Service is a great way of reminding students about the importance of community service and to inspire people to continue helping others. I think it’s really important to organize a day like this to ensure that people are reminded about the impact that service can have on their local communities!"

Although the service projects officially ran from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the event is geared as an introduction to the enduring spirit of community involvement. Lovett emphasized, “A lot of projects are structured to fit in a half day, but civic work is so much more than that.” He hopes this experience inspires students to explore the abundance of opportunities to get involved with public service and civic engagement beyond this one day.

One such opportunity is the Certificate of Civic Engagement, which highlights the College’s commitment to civic engagement and public service. Starting this Fall, students will be able to complete coursework, practicum, and capstone elements of the Certificate of Civic Engagement. All students beyond the College Class of 2025 will be eligible to participate in this Certificate program.