Vanessa

Vanessa came to Vancouver in October of 2014, from her home country of Mexico. In April of 2015, she began her volunteering experience at the Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood house after hearing about the English Conversation Club from a friend who attended. She is now currently a member herself and takes time out of her week to help make it possible. In addition, she also offers her assistance to the Cooking Club.

What first inspired Vanessa to volunteer were her personal experiences. When she first arrived in Canada, she found that along with her family she was having a hard time adjusting to their new life and the cultural changes. She strived for better experiences while adjusting to this new life, which volunteering has provided her.

 “Helping others helps you help yourself”

Through volunteering, Vanessa has made many new friends, as well as learned how she can personally help others who may have gone through the same experiences as her.  As a result, she has seen her self-esteem and confidence increase, enabling her to feel more comfortable when talking to others. Her life experiences and time spent volunteering has also made her feel more useful in comparison to how she would feel staying at home.

Overall, volunteering has provided Vanessa with the much sought after Canadian experience, as well as given her a sense of belonging in the community; she no longer feels alone.

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