Volunteer Appreciation Week 2026: Meet NDMV Ciara Littlejohn

April is a time to celebrate the power of volunteerism and the people who bring our mission to life through their generosity and service. This year, we also mark 35 years of incredible impact through Notre Dame Mission Volunteers. Since 1991, these volunteers have embodied faith in action by accompanying communities and helping create meaningful, lasting changes across the country. 

One of those volunteers is Ciara Littlejohn, who is serving at Langston Hughes Academy in New Orleans. Since September 2025, she has worked with elementary school children as an assistant garden teacher in the Edible Schoolyard program. 

“The first step of environmental justice is to spark a care for the Earth,” she says. “I introduce children to the beauty and importance of nature and growing things that you can eat or just enjoy.” 

Alongside the lead teacher, Ciara teaches students about native plants, the local environment and animals. She demonstrates and supervises the use of garden tools, such as snips and trowels, and guides children in planting and nurturing seeds. 

“There was one child, a kindergartner, who said he had never dug in the dirt before,” Ciara shares. “They get so excited to see their seedlings sprout and grow.” 

Through Notre Dame Mission Volunteers, Ciara has deepened her understanding of the Hallmarks of a Notre Dame de Namur Learning Community and their call to live with purpose. Her favorite is Hallmark #4: “We commit ourselves to community service.” 

She says, “As an educator, I am inspiring the next generation to hopefully be environmental justice warriors. This is the start of their journey to better the earth. This experience has also inspired me to be more involved in environmental justice.” 

At a recent retreat in Ipswich, Massachusetts, Ciara was especially interested in Cuvilly Arts & Earth Center, a ministry of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur that inspires people of all ages to explore their innate creativity and connection to the earth, with a special emphasis on ecological sustainability. 

Ciara’s story, and many others like hers, show how presence and compassion can become transformative. 

You can be part of that impact. 

Notre Dame Mission Volunteers is now accepting applications for volunteers ready to serve at the forefront of social justice and community empowerment in the United States. 

Learn more and apply: https://www.ndmv.org/apply