Taking local volunteering to the national stage

On October 19, one of our very own took her rightful place in the spotlight to speak about the value of volunteering and community service. Vivian Tsang, a Vancouver volunteer, was invited to speak at WE Day Toronto, a major event attracting nearly 20,000 young people to the Air Canada Centre and millions more online.

Vivian has been a volunteer with VCH for more than five years, starting at the VGH Thrift Store. She’s also served at the VGH Gift Shop and, most recently, at Banfield Pavilion. All these experiences, she says, have allowed her to reflect on the value that youth can gain through meaningful interactions with others, whether it be with senior residents, patients or their family members.

Armed with her insights and a lot ingenuity, Vivian founded the Humanitarian Organization for Providing Empowerment to allow more youth the opportunity to work with vulnerable populations in Vancouver. She’s also one of eight young Canadians selected to take part in the WE are Canada 150 Project, highlighting the areas of youth empowerment, the environment, diversity and inclusion, and reconciliation.

Inspired by those she has served as a volunteer, Vivian hopes to pursue a career in the field of population and public health to make health care more accessible for all.