Eva Zhu - Volunteer of the Month for Sept 2020

Please join us in congratulating Eva Zhu for being nominated as Immigrant Services Calgary’s Volunteer of the month for September 2020!

Eva started as a volunteer in April of this year, only months after moving to Canada and when most of the city was locked down due to COVID-19 restrictions. She was one of the first volunteers to start volunteering from home, and quickly started helping with our virtual programs as a workshop assistant. In June Eva started helping out at the Calgary Language Assessment and Referral Centre (CLARC), supporting ISC staff by processing incoming calls and helping clients to get their Language assessments. Clients and staff alike appreciate Eva’s caring personality and desire to help. Thank you, Eva, for all that you have done!

Here is Eva’s story:

My name is Eva Zhu. I am from Shanghai, China. I immigrated to Canada in February 2020 when the pandemic just started. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Art. I was a senior customer service representative and later an English teacher before I came to Canada. I enjoy communicating with people and helping them solve their problems. But COVID-19 has made everything more difficult than ever. The pandemic slowed down almost everyone’s steps to build a new life. Being an optimistic person, I never lose hope for my upcoming new life in Calgary. Just when I was busy looking for jobs and career programs, I came across the website of ISC for volunteers. Why not apply to be a volunteer? It offers a great opportunity for me to immerse myself in the community and also a great way to provide help to others. Later I was given the opportunity to be a volunteer receptionist at CLARC. The reception for CLARC is busy due to the high volume of clients that require English Assessment. I have been talking with people from different educational and cultural backgrounds ever since. I attentively listen to the inquiries of the clients and helped almost all of them find a solution to their problems. The ladies at the reception desk also help me a lot. They are very responsive to my problems concerning client service. They helped me a lot when I was confused and whenever I encountered a complicated situation. I feel like I am in a big family. I have gained more than I have offered. I am willing to contribute more to this big family in the future.

Here is what the staff at CLARC have to say about Eva:

Eva is an excellent professional with a lot of skills and qualifications. She is sensitive to the clients' needs, very dedicated, motivated, and a fast learner. I'm glad to have her in the Reception team, the support she provides to CLARC is invaluable, she always goes the extra mile and is willing to do the best she can in every situation. She has a wonderful personality and her commitment to help others (clients and co-workers) is incredible.

Norgaby Diaz
Volunteer Engagement Specialist
Language Assessment and Referral Centre

Eva is amazing! She is diligent and thorough. She handles difficult clients with a smile. She needs a raise!

Mary Katherine
Newcomer Language Specialist
Language Assessment and Referral Centre