Alida Thiombiano

“We are all complaining that things are not going well around the world and around us, but if we want to see change, we need to do our part.” 

Who Am I?

My name is Alida Chiombiano, I am from Burkina Faso Africa, I have a seven-year-old son, I speak French and I am a doctoral assistant at the University of Calgary. 

What Volunteering is like During COVID-19

Volunteering during the pandemic has been very different but it definitely has its benefits. For example, It has been easier to balance my life because I can connect with the other volunteers from my home through technology, instead of having to drive a far distance. 

My Volunteer Position 

One of my responsibilities is to propose topics for upcoming meetings, research and projects. There are many volunteers in the group that are moms and we offer a unique insight on how to help other parents because we are experiencing the issues ourselves. Before COVID-19, I also helped attend and advertise events. 

Why I Volunteer

I have been volunteering since 2018. I started because I believed in the purpose of the organization, which is to help build strong families by providing parents with the resources they need to increase their children’s development. 

I also believe that we live in a society where everyone is busy and we are saying that things are getting worse but everything starts at the family level, we have to do our part but because of many reasons we decide not to act. Volunteering is me doing my part. 

My Most Impactful Volunteer Experience

I will never forget the first activity I attended because it changed me as a mother. We learned how to use crafts as a way for our children to express their emotions to us, through personalized books. These books allowed my son and me to sit down together, talk about what we liked about one another, and draw about our day and our feelings. Even after the activity we used the book and updated it. I learned that this was a way my son liked to communicate and I have utilized what I learned at that activity to this day. 

Have I Made a Difference?

As parents, we know it is not easy. We think we are doing the right things but our inner thoughts and feelings tell us that we are doing everything wrong. This is why the greatest difference I have made is within my own family. The activities, meetings and discussions helped me to see what was keeping me from being the best mother I could be. 

My Advice to Future Volunteers 

First of all, take it as a commitment. We come to Hakili in order to learn and share experiences and you can motivate yourself knowing that you will become a better person, a better parent and you will impact your community.