Through volunteering Jenn continues to develop her skills

For me, volunteerism is about seeing yourself as part of the community. It’s about gaining meaningful experiences and feeling connected, about gaining a sense of accomplishment through opportunities that make a difference for others.

The City of Guelph supports employee volunteerism through various policies and programs, including its Alternative Work Arrangement Policy and Leave for Change program. While the Alternative Work Arrangement Policy supports wellness among its employees by providing various flexible work opportunities that facilitate a health work-life balance, the Leave for Change program encourages employee engagement by offering participating City staff the opportunity to share their knowledge and skills within the international development community. I recently traveled to Vietnam to volunteer with the Leave for Change program, spending four weeks working as a Student Motivation Development Advisor at Binh Thuan Community College. Currently I volunteer with Volunteer Centre of Guelph/Wellington as a member of the Board and the Resource Development Committee.

The City’s employer-supported volunteer initatives have been crucial in my own development – helping me gain valuable governance experience and increased knowledge of the social development issues. Through volunteering I continue to develop my skills and make connections within our community and beyond.

– Jennifer Bucci, City of Guelph

Photo and story courtesy of Chris Tiessen