Volunteering as a Newcomer: A Workshop and AMA Session with Samah AbdelAziz

As part of Jumpstart Refugee Talent’s ongoing commitment to empowering clients with lived experiences of forced displacement, we are thrilled to announce our next virtual workshop and ‘Ask Me Anything‘ (AMA) session.

This engaging session provides a platform for participants to gain valuable insights, seek guidance, and connect with a supportive community. Designed to address the unique challenges faced by newcomers in Canada, these events aim to equip attendees with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate formal volunteering and leverage it for personal and professional growth.

For our March session, we are honored to welcome Samah AbdelAziz, Coordinator of Programs at Volunteer Toronto. Samah oversees public-facing programs supported by volunteers and leads internal volunteer engagement initiatives. As a newcomer herself, she chose volunteering as a way to connect with her new community, develop her skills, and build her career in Canada. Samah is also an active volunteer, supporting newcomers and providing administrative assistance to community organizations.

Samah will share her personal journey and provide practical advice on navigating the Canadian volunteering landscape. She will discuss key strategies for:

• Understanding formal volunteering in Canada.
• Finding meaningful volunteer opportunities.
• Navigating the application process and setting expectations.
• Leveraging volunteer experience for career development and community integration.

This session promises to be insightful and inspiring, offering participants the opportunity to learn from Samah’s expertise and ask questions tailored to their own career and volunteering journeys.

What You’ll Learn:

• The role of formal volunteering in career growth for newcomers.
• How to find and apply for volunteer opportunities.
• Strategies to make the most of your volunteering experience.
• Insights into building connections and integrating into the community through volunteer work.