Kristianne Viher combines a love of learning with a passion for volunteering to make her community and workplace a better place.

“I encourage everyone to throw yourself out there and see what happens! Giving back to the community and lifelong learning are part of the many cool experiences that life offers. You just have to be open to finding them.

Volunteering has allowed me to grow and develop while I give back to the community. It has helped me to gain a broader understanding and new perspectives of the world around me. I began as a volunteer with Oxfam on campus and the Student Union. After witnessing students struggling with access to affordable food, transportation and housing, we started anon-campus foodbank and inter-campus shuttle.

Through my work with the Alliance of British Columbia Students, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, and the Society for Affordable Student Housing in British Columbia, I have represented students' voices at multiple levels of government. I have learned about the impact affordable housing can have on students, the opportunities it creates, and how it fosters a sense of community. My years of sitting on boards, both in volunteer and paid career roles have been transformative experiences. They led me to IDP and have given me a deeper understanding of the importance of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (IDE).

At IDP, I’m able to engage on IDE topics both in my daily work, and as a contributor in our Employee Resource Group, bringing a focus on IDE to our remote-working North American team. Over the past three years I’ve been able to contribute to discussions and events celebrating Black History Month, advocating for and spreading awareness of Indigenous issues, & embracing awareness that spans Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual (2SLGBTQIA+), religious, and cultural elements.

One thing I’ve learned is how the world is so much bigger than I am. There are so many things we want to accomplish but cannot. However, there are small things that can be done regularly that add up, all of which bring us an extra element of learning and meaning. When I volunteered in student advocacy, it provided me the opportunity to build my empathy around different topics. Now I am now able to use my privilege as a white person in a colonised country to address difficult topics, and to share my learnings with the community around me.

In my community, I’ve been able to show my support for human rights, as a vocal and active supporter. Not everything needs to be a grandiose action though. When I couldn’t attend a protest, against local 2SLGBTQIA+ community. I copied an idea I’d seen online and used chalk to paint messages of love and inclusion all across the square. This small act let protestors, counter-protestors and community members know that the views presented in the rally were not representative of the community at large. As a bonus, the messages lasted days longer than the rally, before being washed away by the rain!

Lifelong learning is so important to me. My children have grown up seeing me learning- they were 6 months, 2, and 3 years old when I went back to school to do my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, and then an MBA online. As they grew, they’ve been able to join me in conversations on important topics, particularly when I completed the Indigenous Canada Certificate. It is an incredibly interesting free 12-week online course that I highly recommend everyone take: Indigenous Canada | University of Alberta. They have joined me in volunteering, stocking shelves at the food bank, setting up events, and even meeting Members of our Legislative Assembly to raise student concerns (including childcare!) at a student-led advocacy week. It has been amazing to watch them grow into young adults who are showing their own forms of empathy and caring!

As an extrovert who gains energy from interacting in activities and being around other people, I love that I have access to paid volunteer days at IDP. Our North American team, we aren’t able to connect in person often, as we work remotely across the country. So, I love that I can get out and volunteer in my community and people see that IDP is living its values of community. My son is a member of the Air Cadets, and after initially using one of my volunteer days to help run a charity event, I became more involved and now volunteer weekly running a canteen with members of the parent committee. It’s a great way to continue building connections and feel a part of the community, while also intentionally placing myself in a space where I am able to hear a variety of different voices and opinions.

I share this because I know that life can throw many things in our paths, making us question whether or not we can make a difference. It is easy for a single mum to think that they might not be able to make a difference, but when we step out of our comfort zones, we are able to impact not only the cause we are volunteering with, but also the community around us, and future generations!

Take the opportunity to have your voice heard. For any position or opportunity, the biggest thing is just to start. It’s easy to think ‘I don’t know enough’ but you can read a book to learn or just follow along.”

Thank you, Kristianne, for inspiring us to continually learn and to be active in our communities.

#ItsUpToMe to learn, grow, develop, and give back.