Yajaira

Yajaira, originally from Venezuela, moved to Canada in 2012 after a long-lasting period of living in the United States. In January 2015, she joined Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House’s (MPNH) Cooking Club and subsequently began volunteering in the kitchen. When she is not volunteering at MPNH, she finds time to volunteer at various organizations as a translator, language educator, and assists refugees with their daily lives.

What inspired Yajaira to initially volunteer was her drive to improve her English and create new friendships. Through her volunteering experiences, she has been able to see how individuals are benefitting from the programs offered and how their social situations are improving. Yajaira finds great joy and inspiration in observing the selflessness portrayed by individuals who are donating their time, helping one-another while not expecting anything in return.

“I had the experience to explain to people a part of my culture… I am giving them a part of the history of my country”

The seniors programs are the most crucial to Yajaira, due to them pushing past the barriers of isolation and boredom being experienced by countless individuals. She thinks that people of all ages should volunteer, however, not just because of the personal rewards and the opportunity for new friendships. Rather, she believes that a lot of individuals have an untapped potential and a greater purpose in life, which they are able to access through the positive, life-changing act of volunteering.

To become a volunteer visit: http://www.mpnh.org/