May 2023 Volunteer Highlight: Sofia Aziz

How did you first get involved with JHC and why?
Advocacy work has always been important to me especially when it comes to supporting the vulnerable and the unfairly persecuted. JHC's focus to advance dignity, freedom, justice, and security is something that I believe are basic human rights. Unfortunately, sometimes our systems fail in protecting these rights and I believe we have a responsibility to support those victims and correct the behavior.

What are your (volunteer) activities and what do they involve?
As a Stride Advocate, my primary activities are as an interviewer and documenter. I believe the work goes deeper than that though as we (Stride Advocates) provide a safe space for victims to come forward to be heard and supported through a challenging process.

How long have you been a volunteer for this initiative (and for JHC as a whole)?
I have been a volunteer with JHC since 2020.

What is it like to volunteer for this initiative?
Working for this initiative has been an experience in strengthening my empathy for others, being able to provide support for those struggling, and hopefully being able to see a positive outcome for those individuals.

What has surprised you most about this role?
The support from the JHC team has been incredible. The amount of work that these individuals have on their plates is intense but they always seem to find time to provide support when I've needed it. They are an amazing group and everyone is always ready to help take on whatever needs to be done for our clients..

Are there any learnings/ challenges you have experienced through this work?
I think this work has highlighted (for me) how much more work there is still needed in working with the system to make positive changes, a commitment to continuous improvements, and supporting those individuals who come forward. Without organizations like JHC to assist in this type of advocacy, community members & victims would not have the much-needed support and the system would not be held accountable to make the necessary changes to prevent them from experiencing these kinds of instances again.