Opportunity Awaits as a Volunteer

Melvari is making a difference in her community as one of the YMCA’s Volunteer Youth Instructors.

Our youth instructors are gaining leadership skills while contributing in a profound way to the Fredericton community at large. Melvari first started volunteering as a youth instructor in the fall of 2021 with Junior Fusion Boys’ Basketball. She really appreciated the opportunity to work alongside more experienced coaches. She tells us that they helped her feel confident in her own abilities and they kept her motivated, all while having a tonne of fun! Melvari also found that she was creating bonds with the younger people participating in the basketball program. Melvari appreciated that her volunteer experience led her to socialize with people both younger and older than herself.

As someone who has played many sports, including high school rugby, Melvari found the prospect of seeing the action from the coach’s point of view illuminating. She also noticed that her own skills as an instructor really started to improve as she continued as an instructor. Upon reflection, Melvari recognizes that she has become a better leader with more confidence and an ability to express her thoughts with ease that she now incorporates into her everyday life.

The YMCA was a natural place for Melvari to spend her time volunteering. She tells us “I used to spend time [at the Y] with my family doing activities such as Zumba lessons, friendly squash games, fitness classes and swimming. Whenever I step into the Y, I get this nostalgic feeling. Volunteering at my local YMCA gives me the opportunity to share those memories and experiences with others around me.”

These days, Melvari volunteers with the beginner and advanced Youth Badminton Programs and looks forward to more opportunities to give back to the community in the future.