I volunteered at Hannah House, it is a residential treatment centre for women dealing with addictions. There are approximately 45 beds available for treatment and the typical stay there is for 90 days.
As part of my work there, I was involved in daily running of the place such as organizing files for the residents due to be seen by the health care team, calling patients for their appointments, cleaning, serving dinner, and any other odd jobs that needed doing.
I also got the opportunity of talking to the residents and learning more about their addictions, the risk factors and their life experiences , trauma that led to the addictions. Unfortunately I also witnessed that addiction appeared to be more common and severe in Indigenous communities and underserved populations.
It helped me understand the complex nature of addictions and its interplay with mental health, role of life experiences and trauma and as well as genetic factors. It was a privilege for me to be involved in care of this diverse population, and was quite inspirational for em to see them fight and win over their addiction with the help fo counseling/medication/other supports that were offered by the programme.
Volunteer
Bailey's House, Fraser Health
05.2023 - 12.2023
For two house every Friday after school I used to volunteer at a local residential care home for the seniors called Bailey's House.
My duties were as follows:
Interacting with the residents, engaging the in different activities for example art and crafts, book reading etc.
For wheel chair dependent residents, I'd take them around the care home to different area as needed.
I also got the opportunity to witness first hand the challenges an ageing population and an understaffed health service is facing.
Most of the residents had complex health care needs and it appeared that the care home needed more nurses, doctors as well as health care assistants.
Volunteer
Food For The Soul
06.2022 - 07.2023
Every Saturday Morning, for two hours I used to go and help out in creating food baskets for homeless population for the area.
I along with other volunteers would then prepare the baskets with 1 week's worth of grocery, bearing in mind the food allergies for each individual person.
Once prepared, the food baskets used to get delivered to the area's shelters.
Shelter and Housing Support Worker at Victoria Women Transition House SocietyShelter and Housing Support Worker at Victoria Women Transition House Society