1. Getting to Know You

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what led you to volunteer with the Vicente Ferrer Foundation?
What inspired you to get involved with the Foundation specifically?

My name is Salma Khamis and I am a current third year at Northeastern University. What led me to volunteer with VFF was their mission and commitment to supporting rural communities in need. Through high school and now my college journey, I have volunteered and worked with community outreach programs to do the same, but at the local level. I wanted to continue my efforts at a larger/global scale. What inspired me however, was the resilience and courage of who we are assisting. They are the true heroes and I’m happy to be working alongside youth who want to get involved and help in any way!

2. Volunteering Highlights

How long have you been volunteering, and what keeps you motivated?
Can you share a memorable project or moment from your time volunteering?

I just started volunteering with VFF, this past June. In general though, I have been doing volunteer work since I was a freshman in high school. What keeps me motivated is that this is exactly the type of work I want to be doing as a career. I currently minor in Public Health, so a lot of what I study has to do with community programs that are meant to serve rural/marginalized communities who are in need.

A memorable moment of my time volunteering was my senior year of high school. I was a part of a youth council similar to the VFF USA National Youth Leadership Council, that was tasked to split 50,000 to deserving community outreach programs. We wanted to focus on organizations that worked with youth, finding employment for young youth and programs that offered some sort of mentorship. At the end, we awarded two programs and to this day, we have been able to see the impact our financial contribution made. We were able to help hundreds of youth across the board while supporting a great local organization. 

3. Impact and Community

How do you think your work has contributed to the communities the Foundation serves?
Is there a particular story or experience that stands out to you from your volunteering?

As we are all working on hosting events, I hope that our work contributes to assisting at risk communities on every level. Whether it’s assisting in education equity, empowering women through financial independence or promoting sustainable living, I want to be making a real change. My time with VFF has just begun, so I don’t have a particular experience that stands out, but my work so far in planning and coordinating has been memorable.

4. Personal Growth

What have you learned through volunteering that has influenced your personal or professional life?
How has this experience changed your perspective on global development or social impact?

Through volunteering in general during my high school/college career, I have learned that it takes a community to get anything done. People fail to realize that coming together, supporting one another, is key to public health work. I have learned to value my teammates, to consistently work on my communication skills to ensure I’m not only effectively communicating my own ideas, but also building on my listening skills.  

5. Looking Ahead

What excites you about the Foundation’s future work, and how do you plan to stay involved?
What advice would you give to someone thinking about volunteering with the Foundation?

What excites me is all of our prospective events as we are finalizing details and reaching out to potential leaders. I’m passionate about building connections,networking, and always learning something new about one’s careers, as well as the great work being done to support marginalized communities within India. I plan to stay involved by continuing civic work in my own community even if I’m no longer an active member of VFF. I also plan to take what I learn from VFF, as it is applicable in both my professional and personal life. My advice to someone looking to volunteer is to be open minded and give it your all. The work VFF does as well as its members, is vital and needed now more than ever.  

6. Fun Question

When you’re not volunteering, what do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time, I spend lots of time with friends and family. My favorite hobby is going to the gym and overall staying active.