At age 17, Zahra is one of the most involved volunteers within our community. Not only does she volunteer with her high school on a regular basis, she also assists with an after-school girl’s group, where she helps empower girls at a young age. Zahra inspires to delve into the field of sciences this fall. With this path, Zahra hopes to continue to inspire volunteerism on an international basis.
Over the past week, I was fortunate enough to interview Zahra. See my interview with this diligent volunteer below:
How did you get involved in service work (volunteering) in the community?
I moved to Canada just when I was about to start High School. Obviously in moving to a whole new country, I didn’t know a single person here, let alone have a friend. So I joined my school’s James Fowler Volunteer Club hoping to meet new people, make new friends, and be involved in my school and community and definitely bringing positive changes however I could.
Tell me about the kind of work you do with after-school girls group. What is your role? What kind of activities happen? What are the girls like?
Anything and everything fun any 4th or 5th Grader would ever want to do is the kind of things we did at the program, both boys and girls! We started off the afternoon with a snack time when we shared the roses and thorns of our day, which is when we talked about something good or bad that had happened. Then, we would decide on an activity such as bracelet making, crafts, physical activities and games. But the best thing about these activities is that we would always imply the main purpose behind this girls group, which was to empower each other into becoming confident about who we are as girls in the classroom, in our families and in the society. We would discuss the virtues that we have, and appreciate each other’s strengths and work on our weaknesses. My role was to engage the girls in these activities, be an active part in the group and encourage them to be proud of who they are. The girls were absolutely amazing. They were kind, understanding and accepting of each other, very creative as well, and also they had a mature perspective on what it means to be a girl in today’s society where there are issues to be dealt with and the expectations to be lived up to.
What kind of influence/effect do you think you have (with the group and/or in the community)?
I wouldn’t call it an influence, but rather a call to the people in the society, especially teenagers with our energy and zeal, to come forward and make the difference we are so well capable of. Being part of a group like GirlStart really made me feel like I was playing my part in helping girls to become confident and optimistic about themselves. There are so many other causes we can all devote ourselves to, to make this world a better place.
I heard you are really outgoing, how do you remain so positive?
Well, like any other person, all my days are not my best; I have my own share of bad days. But that’s the thing, I have this need to look at the brighter, bigger picture, no matter how difficult the circumstances are at the moment. This faith that tomorrow will be a better day and even hoping the best from people around me, keeps me going. Also, I think there is always something positive you can take out of situations even when it doesn’t seem all that promising.
What continues to inspire you to volunteer?
When I see people do random acts of kindness like carrying a senior’s grocery bag or giving up your seat in the bus for a mother and a child. For some reason, it makes the world seem like it’s filled with helpful people, who want to give back to their society and they have hope to make the world a better place. These small acts of kindness make me believe in the potential we all have inside us, and the empathy we feel for people around us.
What other kind of volunteering work do you do?
With my school’s Volunteer Club, I take part in any event that happens in my school simply because I want to be as involved in it as possible. I am also a volunteer with the Youth Central, so I volunteer at various events involving children and seniors. Also, I volunteer in my cultural community where I help organize events and help out with various activities. I have volunteered with the City and the public library as well over the summer.
What are your plans for your future? (in terms of both educational/career and volunteering)
I want to go on to my post secondary education, hopefully this coming September, in the field of the sciences. I have volunteered in my community for some time now, but now I want to take it to an international level and volunteer on field, gain some more hands-on experience of the “real world.” I aspire to become a Public Health Officer someday in the future and serve in developing countries, raising awareness about health issues and tackling the challenges in the developing world.
I was not only impressed with Zahra, but I was inspired. Zahra is a semblance of what our generation of youth can accomplish.
