New app to help connect Calgarians with volunteer opportunities

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When Volly founder and venture supervisor Alice Lam returned to Calgary after a decade dwelling and dealing all over the world, she got here house with a way of civic responsibility and a need to strive one thing new.

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“I used to be so impressed by what was taking place in different cities and Calgary is type of in its development section, so I assumed I wished to be part of that story of creating Calgary a gorgeous place to dwell for everybody… I actually wished to get to know my metropolis higher, and one of the best ways I assumed I may try this was by volunteering,” stated Lam.

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In 2019, Lam and her workforce launched the web site for Volly, a one-stop store for volunteers and organizations to search out and publish alternatives. Within the spring of 2023, the group will launch a cellular app to assist streamline the volunteer course of and supply extra alternatives to offer again to and study from the group.

Lam stated the objective of the web site — and shortly the app — is to offer non-profit organizations a hand in connecting Calgarians with volunteer alternatives, but it surely’s additionally about serving to the general public discover a trigger that they match

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“I actually wished them to spend much less time doing analysis and extra time on the market volunteering,” Lam stated.

“The preliminary concept (for the app) was Tinder for volunteering, making it quite simple for folks to swipe by and discover volunteer alternatives… It is all about constructing group. Volly is just not solely a technical useful resource, however it’s also a manner for the group to return collectively by way of the best way to make our cities higher and a extra enjoyable place to dwell for everybody.”

Regardless of already having a web site, Lam stated she and the workforce at Volly need to increase their attain and ship notifications to organizations and volunteers when wanted.

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The app may even have a points-gathering system primarily based on volunteer participation, in addition to studying modules on civics, monetary and healthcare literacy, making it “a bit like a civics college,” Lam stated.

“I do not anticipate everybody to volunteer weekly like I do. But when somebody needs to volunteer every year, do one thing with their household or their children every year, I do not need the analysis and the burden of discovering the knowledge to be the barrier,” she stated. . “Hopefully (Volly) helps them discover one thing enjoyable to exit and do of their communities to make a reminiscence and have an effect, whether or not it is as soon as or 100 instances.”

In November, Lam was considered one of 7,000 Albertans awarded the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition of her contribution to the province.

“The easiest way to go away my mark on the town and actually get to know what the town wants, and the way we are able to make it a extra enjoyable and vibrant and inclusive place, is thru volunteering.”

ocondon@postmedia.com