"I have seen families without clean, running water. I have seen women and children in need of the most basic medical care. During each trip you realize that some things just aren't that important when you see what other people live through, and what they live without. These experiences put balance back into your life."

Carol White was never one for packaged resort vacations. She always wanted to meet the people, experience the culture and explore the communities of the places she visited. Her love of travel, and her desire to give back to developing communities, led her to not one but three countries in dire need of help.

Microsoft Canada's I Volunteer program gives every employee 40 hours of paid time per year to dedicate to philanthropic causes. For many volunteers, the desire to give back takes them to areas within their own communities. For Carol, it took her a world away.

 Carol is the LAR Marketing Manager at Microsoft Canada. Prior to joining the company, she had spent several years volunteering in a nursery school for children with special needs (Autism, Down Syndrome and other developmental issues).

Her first large-scale volunteering experience was working in an orphanage in Guatemala City in 2006 with Cross-Cultural Solutions, an international, non-profit humanitarian agency.

That experience left her with a desire to help even more, and a year later she left for Kuching, Malaysia to build homes as part of an international Habitat for Humanity effort.

"There was no running water," she said of the small community. "It was a big learning experience for me. There were no power tools. We used hand saws. Everything was hands on. I never thought I would mix cement by hand in the jungle."

Before Carol and her team arrived, entire families were living in one-room shacks. After the build, these families were able to move into affordable, modern houses with running water.

After Central America and Asia, Carol's next stop was Africa. With an international crew, she helped to build several of the 40 adobe houses that were planned in Ethiopia. The "sweat equity" of the volunteers and all the physical labour that goes into these projects compliments the work Habitat for Humanity does on site to build communities from the ground up.

Carol would not have been able to have the kinds of life-changing experiences without the support of her Microsoft team and managers back at home, who have cheered Carol along in all of her efforts.

"Carol has shown incredible dedication and leadership in her volunteering," says Gavin Thompson, Director of Corporate Citizenship at Microsoft Canada. "She will tell you she is just doing her small part in the I Volunteer program. But the fact is Carol's work has impacted hundreds of lives. Heroes perform not when they are asked, but when they are compelled to do so."

Comments

D. KEN SHAW wrote re: EVERYDAY HEROES: Carol White, I Volunteer, Microsoft Canada

on 12-03-2009 9:42 PM

WoW, it would be cool to do what Carol has done !! I also volunteer, albeit on a smaller, yet no less important manner. I am on full disability so I use my time doing 'the right thing'. I am a 'Director' on the 'Board' of a Canada-Wide Organization, HOWEVER, My most gratifying 'work' is 'Private Advocating' for folk on limited income. Rental Issues , & Small Claims, (under $25,000 Civil), Court cases are the usual, & I do EVERYTHING Possible to WIN for the downtrodden. Unfortunately, my desire to help the above doesn't pay off in $$, although My Heart & Soul Get A Big Thrill!! KNOWING there are so many other 'Volunteers' HARD at 'work' keeps me going when I get discouraged, etc. I also would be lost if not for my trusty P.C. with XP Pro. I will be updating to W-7 a.s.a.p. as it is terrific to work with. Anyway, thanks for all the good you folk do, and keep it up, pleez !! - Ken Phoenix Advocating Services Unlimited PENTICTON, B.C., CANADA

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