The National Volunteer Week theme for 2022, Volunteering Is Empathy In Action, affirms the strong connection between volunteerism and empathy. This profoundly human connection is at the heart of healthier individuals and stronger communities.
Meet Tanja, a Serbian native, data analyst, and environmentalist. After living in the Bahamas for 25 years, Tanja decided it was time for a new challenge and came to Langara to complete a PPD in Data Analytics. This in turn birthed her journey into Langara VOLT.
Her passion for the outdoors and the natural environment pushed her towards being part of the Sustainability Student Ambassador program.
“I want to help preserve our environment and keep it as beautiful for future generations."
But Tanja’s contributions didn’t stop there. Tanja helped revive the Langara Sustainability Club, worked on campaigns for the Data Analytics Club, helped at beach cleanups, and put in the time to remove invasive species of Scotch broom in the Iona Beach area.
Last summer, Tanja collaborated with the Project Management Club as one of the speakers in their Green Life Management workshop, where going zero waste in our personal lives was approached through a project management lens.
Currently, she volunteers at an urban farm with the CSA program that feeds 70 families and also provides educational community gardens and therapeutic accessible gardens. Her interest in accessibility and inclusion, and the lessons learnt from her volunteer experience at an urban farm, are also reflected in her contribution to the establishment of an accessibility garden on the Langara campus.
“Volunteering helps me meet people and to feel part of the community. It is very rewarding.”
Tanja believes everyone should get involved with volunteering and believes volunteer experiences are a wonderful way to get to know other people in the community.
“It’ll help you create connections that, maybe someday, will help you with a job. There is no argument against it,” she says.