Online Community Specialist| PMINewtown Square, Pa, United States
We would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks for our 11,000+ volunteers worldwide. It’s because of you that we can call ourselves a volunteer-driven organization at PMI.
Share out below:
1. Tell us about a time you volunteered internationally? What was the experience like? What was the impact?
2. Share your most impactful volunteering experience and how it made a difference in someone’s life
3. What are your plans for volunteering in 2024?
I’ll kick it off by sharing my answer to #2, my most impactful volunteering experience:
Almost six years ago our family had the rug pulled from under our feet. My sister, then 39, died suddenly from a tormenting disease, a disease that sometimes no one wants to address and/or discuss……addiction. She struggled terribly with this for many years, which eventually took her from this world, crushing my mother, youngest sister and me.
We no longer wanted to partake in celebrating holidays as they approached, knowing one less person will be there to celebrate in the festivities. As we dreaded celebrating our U.S. Thanksgiving holiday that year in 2018, I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself. I spent that first Thanksgiving without my sister and volunteered with a local community shelter by serving meals to those stricken by addiction, poverty and homelessness. I was apprehensive at first, but after the first hour of my shift I was building meaning relationships from all walks of life, adults, children, school students from low income families, the homeless, and yes, those with addiction. I immediately stopped feeling sorry for myself and was humbled by the amazing impact these people had on my life, even for three hours.
After that one Thanksgiving, I was so overwhelmed with joy that I encouraged my mother and sister to join me the following year. They too were overtaken by the amount of joy it brought to their hearts just to put a smile on another person’s face. We then realized our lives were worth living and celebrating. Bringing joy to others is the most rewarding feeling in the world. To this day, my mother, sister and I celebrate Thanksgiving with those in need. Not only did it provide comfort to others, but also revitalized our spirits to celebrate those around you who may need a helping hand. We always look forward to celebrating this day with our new found community of friends!
I'd love to hear from you in the comments below: how would you answer questions 1, 2, and 3 about volunteering? Saving Changes...
It is heartening when you can turn a personal tragedy into something to draw strength from by helping others!
1. Nearly all of my 1:1 mentoring is virtual with PMs who are located outside of Canada. Most recently, I helped a US serviceperson with his transition to a (civilian) PM career path - he needed a mentor for a certificate-based PM program he was taking and I helped him over the course of many weeks. I think he learned a lot and I benefited by learning how current college level curriculums are structured.
2. I've been volunteering on a weekly basis for the past year at one of our local food banks. Food insecurity is a big challenge in my city as it is across most of North America and the number of families who are relying on community support has increased tremendously over the past couple of years thanks to increased costs of housing and grocery cost inflation. I've had the opportunity to work "end to end" - sorting & boxing donations in the warehouse, collecting food for food drives and helping families with their grocery shopping at the food bank itself.
3. I will continue to be a virtual mentor for PM practitioners as well as supporting the food bank. I also served on the board of our local museum over the last year and will be doing that again this year.
Kiron
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1 reply by Kimberly Whitby
Dec 05, 2023 7:13 PM
Kimberly Whitby
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Thanks for sharing your experience and learning opportunities from volunteering. I absolutely love that you mentored a serviceman during his transition into PM, how commendable! Yes, food insecurity unfortunately is rampant in all communities, so it brings us joy when we pay it forward!
THANK YOU for always assisting others in this community and guiding them in their journeys!
Online Community Specialist| PMINewtown Square, Pa, United States
Dec 05, 2023 5:02 PM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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Hi Kimberly -
It is heartening when you can turn a personal tragedy into something to draw strength from by helping others!
1. Nearly all of my 1:1 mentoring is virtual with PMs who are located outside of Canada. Most recently, I helped a US serviceperson with his transition to a (civilian) PM career path - he needed a mentor for a certificate-based PM program he was taking and I helped him over the course of many weeks. I think he learned a lot and I benefited by learning how current college level curriculums are structured.
2. I've been volunteering on a weekly basis for the past year at one of our local food banks. Food insecurity is a big challenge in my city as it is across most of North America and the number of families who are relying on community support has increased tremendously over the past couple of years thanks to increased costs of housing and grocery cost inflation. I've had the opportunity to work "end to end" - sorting & boxing donations in the warehouse, collecting food for food drives and helping families with their grocery shopping at the food bank itself.
3. I will continue to be a virtual mentor for PM practitioners as well as supporting the food bank. I also served on the board of our local museum over the last year and will be doing that again this year.
Kiron
Thanks for sharing your experience and learning opportunities from volunteering. I absolutely love that you mentored a serviceman during his transition into PM, how commendable! Yes, food insecurity unfortunately is rampant in all communities, so it brings us joy when we pay it forward!
THANK YOU for always assisting others in this community and guiding them in their journeys! Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Kimberly, great question and thanks for sharing your personal story. I am sorry for the loss of your beloved sister, I know it is tough and always will be but I can also tell you're strong and resilient.
1) I've mentored many candidates both nationally and internationally, in-person and virtually. Volunteering is a two-way street, and while you help others, it also helps you grow as a professional because you learn from everyone's experience. This year through mentorship, I managed to help two candidates land a great job overseas and that made me feel great because seeing the people around me succeed motivates me a lot.
2) It too personal for me to share, so I will have to pass on this question.
3) I have several plans for 2024: Participate as a mentor with PMI Vancouver Westcoast Chapter (They have two cohorts per year), Continue volunteering as a Moderators for PMI LinkedIn Group, Continue working with PMI Certification Development Team on some ad-hoc tasks for certain certifications, Do some webinars speaking events. I also volunteer with other organizations like PM4NGOs as their Canada Hub Ambassador.
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1 reply by Kimberly Whitby
Dec 06, 2023 7:51 AM
Kimberly Whitby
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Helo Rami - thanks so much for everything you do in mentoring others and sharing your expertise with the entire community. You definitely have a packed agenda planned for 2024. Great job all around!
Online Community Specialist| PMINewtown Square, Pa, United States
Dec 05, 2023 8:27 PM
Replying to Rami Kaibni
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Kimberly, great question and thanks for sharing your personal story. I am sorry for the loss of your beloved sister, I know it is tough and always will be but I can also tell you're strong and resilient.
1) I've mentored many candidates both nationally and internationally, in-person and virtually. Volunteering is a two-way street, and while you help others, it also helps you grow as a professional because you learn from everyone's experience. This year through mentorship, I managed to help two candidates land a great job overseas and that made me feel great because seeing the people around me succeed motivates me a lot.
2) It too personal for me to share, so I will have to pass on this question.
3) I have several plans for 2024: Participate as a mentor with PMI Vancouver Westcoast Chapter (They have two cohorts per year), Continue volunteering as a Moderators for PMI LinkedIn Group, Continue working with PMI Certification Development Team on some ad-hoc tasks for certain certifications, Do some webinars speaking events. I also volunteer with other organizations like PM4NGOs as their Canada Hub Ambassador.
Helo Rami - thanks so much for everything you do in mentoring others and sharing your expertise with the entire community. You definitely have a packed agenda planned for 2024. Great job all around! Saving Changes...
PMI Team Member
Community Champion
