Being a volunteer means language is no barrier. If you come from Central America, there’s no reason you can’t help people a continent away.
For the last few months, there have been a few special guests here in St. Albert and they’ve been welcome additions to the teams at the St. Albert Senior Citizens’ Club and the St. Albert Public Library.
Since October there have been four representatives of Canada World Youth helping out and it didn’t even matter that some of them only spoke French or Spanish when they first arrived. They’ve picked up enough English and even made a point of teaching others their native tongues and a few cultural dances along the way.
This 39-year-old organization works to develop international educational programs for youths between the ages of 15 to 25 in Africa, Latin America, Asia, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. It has provided opportunities for more than 33,000 young people from 67 countries to have experience and learn about other cultures and contribute to the well-being of many communities including their own.
Pat Phelan, director of volunteer centre services at the CIVC, said St. Albert always relies on the kindness and generosity of its countless volunteers, no matter where they come from, especially since tomorrow is the 25th observance of International Volunteer Day as designated by the United Nations. According to the Canadian Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating, 80 per cent of St. Albert residents volunteer in some capacity throughout the year, surpassing by a substantial margin the national average of 52 per cent.
“It seems to knock me out that volunteerism is so prevalent throughout the world,” she began. “It really drives home the fact that volunteering is a win-win situation. When you see young people come in to volunteering with Canada World Youth or Katimavik for the experiences that they receive and at the same time they’re giving. What they give is so much appreciated but what they get is tenfold. They receive far more than they give.”
She expects that next year will see a strong resurgence in interest in volunteering since St. Albert will be hosting the Alberta 55 Plus Winter Games from Feb. 24 to 27, not to mention the spate of yearlong activities surrounding the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the city.
To get more involved in volunteering in St. Albert, call the CIVC at 780-459-6666 or visit www.stalbertcivc.com. The office is located at 215 Carnegie Drive in Campbell Business Park.
To learn more about Canada World Youth, please visit canadaworldyouth.cwy-jcm.com.
