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Safina Lalani

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Volunteer Appreciation

Safina Lalani

Volunteer role opens doors to new friendships and career path

In 2005, while surfing the University of Toronto career website, Safina Lalani was intrigued by a volunteer posting seeking volunteers for the Geneva Centre for Autism

While the then 20-year-old knew little about the Centre, she decided to apply because helping kids held great interest.

She recalls telling a friend in the elevator on her way to her volunteer job interview about her destination and discovered another elevator passenger confessed having a brother with autism. “Now we’re close friends.” Just one of the many positive outcomes Safina says has come from three years of working at the Geneva Centre.

Research by the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy found that students who enjoy their volunteer activities report greater satisfaction with their academic work and have a greater sense of meaning and purpose in life.

Now 23, Safina has continued her volunteer work while managing a demanding academic workload because, she states, Geneva Centre supports her contributions to the children’s programs.

“I feel that I am valued as equally as any staff member at the Centre. The staff are so supportive and the volunteer coordinator has been especially wonderful.”

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