As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, we want to applaud Masouma and Atiqullah for their love of community and commitment to helping others. Every week, they spend multiple hours volunteering in Hamilton
Masouma, Atiqullah and their young daughter arrived from Afghanistan on October 3, 2023. Wesley’s Resettlement Assistance Program provided support when they landed in Canada.
Masouma volunteers by teaching sewing lessons at the Afghan Association of Hamilton and serves at the 541 Eatery and Exchange food counter. She loves that everyone is welcome at 541 and the spirit of purchasing a button so someone else can share in a meal. Atiqullah volunteers at the Welcome Inn’s food bank, where he uses his ability to communicate in multiple languages to help others who need assistance.
They have always prioritized helping others. In Cairo, Egypt, where they lived after leaving Afghanistan, Masouma was a teacher, and Atiqullah was a cultural assistant for the Afghan Embassy. In Afghani culture, helping others is just what you do. “It feels good. You feel proud. You give what you can,” shares Masouma.
Volunteering has also helped Masouma and Atiqullah learn the culture of their new home and meet new friends. Masouma explains, “I love connecting with people. I feel like I’m home.”
Both Masouma and Atiqullah completed their First Aid and CPR certifications shortly after arriving. She carries basic first aid supplies and naloxone, ready to help.
Masouma and Atiqullah are building community and making the world a little brighter for someone else every time they volunteer.
