"When I joined the staff team for a local volunteer-driven, non-profit agency in 2003 I quickly gained a new perspective about volunteerism in our community. I joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kitchener-Waterloo and Area as a Caseworker in our one-to-one mentoring program. One aspect of my role was monitoring and supporting the relationships that were occurring in the community between our wonderful volunteer mentors and their Little Brothers/Little Sisters. Our volunteer mentors encounter many magical moments in their relationships, and challenging moments too.
In 2006 I was looking to enhance my skills and knowledge through further education. The Volunteer Program Management program offered through Conestoga's Continue Education department was a great fit for my lifestyle. The courses are offered on evenings or weekends, which allows me to continue my full-time work schedule while juggling my other commitments. The classroom environment at Conestoga has been wonderful. There is plenty of time for discussion, sharing personal experiences and asking questions. I am currently enrolled in my fourth course of this program. Each of the courses covers current information regarding the continuously changing field of volunteerism in Canada.
I have gained a lot of knowledge from my classmates and the instructors of this program. The students I have met in the program have various backgrounds. Some are working in the volunteer management field, others are looking for a career change and some are hoping to implement a more structured volunteer program in their current job, committee, or organization. As our program coordinator emphasizes; there is more knowledge in a group than in anyone individually.
I am now the Volunteer and Community Relations Coordinator at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kitchener-Waterloo and Area. I use the information from my courses on a daily basis to benefit the agency and our many volunteers. I also know that I have built a strong network of resources through my classmates and instructors which I will carry with me through my career. Participating in this program has renewed my creative approach toward volunteer program development and I look forward to continuing my career in this field.
To all the volunteers in our community, thank you for your hard work and dedication."
Alaina Holman
Volunteer and Community Relations Coordinator
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kitchener-Waterloo and Area