Annual awards celebrate commitment, passion of volunteers – Winnipeg Free Press

Just 18 months ago, Rana Ahmed was leaving his home in Egypt to study at the University of Manitoba. This week, she received an award for her volunteer work.

Ahmed is one of the people being celebrated at the 40th annual Volunteer Awards at the Club Regent Event Center on Thursday.

This year's awards recognize more than two dozen outstanding volunteers from across the province.

Ahmed will receive the RBC Bright Future Award for his work as social media coordinator for Canada's World Universities Service Student Refugee Program.

The program pairs refugee students with young Canadian students who help support them as they adjust to university.

Ahmed, who is working on a Master of Science in Microbiology, started volunteering with the organization last June.

She also volunteered for campus mentoring programs and a language exchange program, helped with the campus food bank, and participated in a childhood cancer awareness walk.

“I'm passionate about volunteer work,” she says, and it's a reflection of her Muslim faith. “I like helping others and seeing others happy.”

Ahmed did not expect to receive a gift.

“I was over the moon when I got the email,” she says. “It's a motivation for me to do more for the community.”

Judy Dickema and Marlene Wilborn didn't expect the prize either.

Two friends will receive the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Association's Changemaker Award for their leadership of the nutrition and outreach team at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Fort Richmond.

Dickema almost deleted the email announcing the award because she didn't recognize the sender.

“I was shocked,” she says, describing how she felt when she read the email. “Now I am humbled.”

Twice a month, Dickema, Willborn and their team deliver 75 meals to Urban, a Lutheran ministry on Arlington Street.

“It was time to get my life back and this was the perfect place to do it,” says Willborn.

“I also feel that we have brought our church to a common goal,” adds Dickema, noting that the outreach team has the support of the entire congregation. “We have a lot of volunteers in our community for these different initiatives and don't seem to hesitate to do it.”

The Volunteer Awards are important because they celebrate the commitment and passion of the winners, says Volunteer Manitoba Executive Director Ashley Seymour.

“Some of these people go above and beyond to serve the community every day,” he says. “It's important to us to make sure these people are recognized for the work they've done.”

Thursday will mark the first in-person meeting since 2019. It coincides with National Volunteer Week, which runs until Saturday.

This year's award winners range from high school students to senior citizens.

“There's a diversity of people, and we're excited to celebrate them all,” says Seymour.

See the list of this year's winners at http://wfp.to/yrb.

If you know a special volunteer, please contact [email protected].