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By Elisa Ionadi
Melissa Lopes (at left) with Toronto Green Community co-director Paula Messina at the Live Green Toronto Festival this past August.
Each week, Tandem profiles a volunteer in the community whose work inspires readers to reach out and lend a hand.
This week, Tandem spoke with Melissa Lopes, who volunteers for Toronto Green Community (TGC). TGC is an organization that engages people in a local environmental action for a cleaner, greener Toronto.
Why did you decide to volunteer with the Toronto Green Community?
I was looking for Canadian experience. When I came here everyone was telling me that if I wanted to find some opportunities, I would have to find a volunteer placement. I did not want to volunteer for an organization that has a lot of money and a lot of people, I wanted to help out an organization that was really in need. Im really into environmental issues, so I went on the Volunteer Toronto website and found the listing for the Toronto Green Community.
Give us a snapshot of your volunteer day.
We do a little bit of everything. I do basic things, whatever they need help with, like administration, mail and reception. Its really nice how you have freedom to do whatever you would like to do to help out. You can help with anything that you think you are capable of. I also have experience in workshops, so if they need me to be part of a presentation I also assist them in that. I dont have a routine there, whatever I feel I can help with and is suitable with my experience, I involve myself in.
What do you find inspiring about your volunteer position?
Its the freedom that I have there. They listen to your opinion and to what you think is important. You want to work with people like that, even if you are working for free. They really value the work and time you put into the organization and the way you represent the message that they are trying to give to the community.
How has volunteering helped in other aspects of your life?
Volunteering at TGC really helped with my self-confidence. I was looking for a job for almost a year when I first moved here and I couldnt understand and adjust to being somewhere new with a different system than I had back home. With the experience that I have gained through volunteering, I really feel like I have all my confidence back.
Publication Date: 2009-11-01
Story Location: http://www.tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=9534
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