ICC’s Newcomer Skills Accelerator Program has partnered with organizations across Canada to give volunteers the opportunity to challenge themselves and enhance their skill set in Canadian workplaces. And thanks to our volunteers’ hard work, we have the chance to continue building on this program.

Sumayya Bashir has been volunteering with the Women Cyber Security Society through the Institute for Canadian Citizenship’s Newcomer Skills Accelerator Program. Her incredible journey captures the importance of personal growth, purpose, and achievement that she found through volunteering her time. She hopes that her experiences can be a motivating example for new volunteers who are looking for a chance to feel a sense of belonging within their new community. This can be done through a commitment to create change.

Discovering the Drive to Volunteer

Sumayya’s motivation to volunteer with the Women Cyber Security Society stemmed from her deep desire to make a positive impact in her community. She sought a sense of purpose and fulfillment in life, and volunteering turns out to be the perfect opportunity for her to pursue these goals. Additionally, her desire to learn new skills and gain valuable experiences played a huge role in this decision.

During her time as a volunteer, Sumayya took on the role of a Social Media Marketing Strategist. She created engaging content for specific audiences on a variety of platforms and learned to craft different strategies. These plans could, then, be measured based on how effective they were. Her journey was not just about giving back. But also, pursuing skill development in a specific area of interest that can now be added to her resume.

What really resonated with Sumayya was the mission at the Women Cyber Security Society. As a passionate advocate for gender equality in STEM fields, she found a connection with the organization’s commitment to empowering women in cybersecurity. The dedication to highlight the unique challenges faced by women in a male-dominated industry aligned with her own beliefs. Highlighting these obstacles allows each person who faces them understanding that they are not alone and potentially even advice for the future.

To learn more about the work of the Women Cyber Security Society, click here.

Advice to Future Volunteers

Sumayya describes the atmosphere at Women Cyber Security Society as positive and supportive, emphasizing its commitment to both diversity and inclusion.

It’s easy to say that Sumayya’s experience volunteering with the organization exceeded all of her expectations. She not only made a meaningful impact, but also experienced a remarkable opportunity to add to her current skill set while adding to a sense of belonging. Her values aligned seamlessly with the organization’s mission, making her volunteer journey one of true commitment.

Sumayya’s advice to new volunteers is to embrace the learning opportunities, understand the organization’s mission, while also communicating your needs effectively. This will help you build relationships and remain committed, even in challenging times. Celebrating every accomplishment, no matter how small, and taking full advantage of these experiences can lead to a rewarding experience. One that you continue long after you started.

Sumayya Bashir’s time as a volunteer is definitely not over. This only shows the profound impact volunteering can have on one’s life. Her dedication to making a difference serve as an inspiration for others to join the program. Here, you can embark on their own transformative volunteer experience.

To learn more about the Institue for Canadian Citizenship’s volunteer program, Newcomer Skills Accelerator Program, click here.