SCWIST celebrates National Volunteers Week

SCWIST celebrated National Volunteers Week thanking its volunteers on YouTube and launching a “shape your own program” project. Over 100 SCWIST volunteers invest their time in making science fun for girls, hosting workshops for women in science and engineering, and creating events for scientific women who have immigrated to Canada.

During National Volunteers Week (19th-25th April 2009), SCWIST surveyed over 100 volunteers to learn their vision for the volunteer program. SCWIST Volunteers Director, Dr. Linda Lanyon, says “During 2009 SCWIST is committed to designing a meaningful Volunteer Program that recognises, empowers and supports its community of highly talented volunteers. We wanted to ensure our volunteers have a strong voice in the development of this Program.”

SCWIST’s National Volunteers Week celebrations concluded with the posting of a video message of thanks to its volunteers, including features about some of its current volunteers. SCWIST President, Dr. Elana Brief, says “Our volunteer resource is truly vital to the success of SCWIST in achieving its current and future aims. All the work we do in promoting math, science and technology as possible career paths to girls, and in supporting and empowering women in science and technology is due to the commitment of our wonderful volunteers. During National Volunteers Week we send them our special thanks”.