Volunteer Highlight Oct 2024: Fea Gelvezon

How and why did you first get involved with JHC?

I was matched to intern with the board of JHC for September 2021 to April 2022 through the University of Alberta’s Non-Profit Board Internship Program. As an intern, I learned about how the JHC’s programs empowers people and creates meaningful impact in the community. I was interested in learning more about social justice and giving back to the community, so I decided to continue volunteering with the JHC after my internship.

What are your volunteer activities and what do they involve?

I volunteer as an Education Facilitator. I support the Education Team in planning youth-oriented programs, creating materials, and helping facilitate events. Since being part of the Education Team, I’ve supported and helped facilitate programming for three events: the Rural Youth Anti-Racism Storytelling Retreat on October 13-15, 2023, Ignite Change Convention’s Young Leadership and Digital Literacy Series on December 6-8, 2023, and the Prairie Rural Youth Anti-Racism Education on August 7-9, 2024.


How long have you been a volunteer with JHC?

I have been a volunteer with JHC as a whole since September 2021, and I started volunteering with the Social Stride program in December 2022 and have continued to support youth and anti-racism programming since then.

What has surprised you the most about this role?

I love how much the JHC staff actually listens to us and trusts our ideas! As a young person, I’m so used to just following instructions and doing my part when I volunteer. But that’s not the case with this role. The JHC staff really makes it a priority to get us involved in planning and running the programs. We get to give feedback, share ideas on how to improve things, and even say no if something doesn’t feel right. It is very collaborative. You can tell the JHC staff genuinely care about helping us learn and grow.

Are there any learnings you have experienced through this work that you’d like to share?

At first, I was worried about facilitating because I didn’t have much experience before joining JHC. But I quickly realized I didn’t need to stress as much as I thought. The youth who attend JHC’s programs are just as eager to learn as we are to facilitate. Their energy and enthusiasm made it much easier than I expected. Hearing their excitement and seeing how engaged they were in the program helped ease my nerves and made me realize there wasn’t much to worry about after all.

What is it like to volunteer with this initiative and JHC as a whole?

Volunteering for Social Stride and JHC has been a truly rewarding experience. From planning and facilitating programs to stepping outside of my comfort zone, I’ve had the chance to grow both personally and professionally. The JHC staff and fellow volunteers create an incredibly supportive and collaborative environment, so you’re never working alone. It’s a great space to learn from others and develop new skills. One of the highlights for me has been meeting and engaging with youth from across Canada through various programs, which has made the experience even more meaningful.

Interested in volunteering with the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights? Submit a volunteer application today!