For Divyanshu Singh, volunteering is not just a once-in-a-while activity—it’s a lifestyle. As a Software Developer at Interac Corp., Divyanshu was one of the many Interac employees who participated in the company’s fourth annual National Volunteer Week campaign from April 28 to May 2. Having immersed himself in every event, Divyanshu views volunteering as a powerful way to forge connections with the Interac team while giving back. With Interac actively creating these opportunities, he continues to cultivate a strong sense of community and purpose—both within the workplace and beyond.
“Volunteering enables me to be surrounded by people and develop deeper bonds and gives me a broader perspective of my work, as I get to meet people outside my team and learn how each of our roles come together to support the business,” Divyanshu said. “I’m proud to be part of a company that dedicates so much to not only giving back to the community but also creating avenues for us to do something meaningful together and learn about these different causes and organizations.”
National Volunteer Week at Interac is designed to unite employees in learning, understanding and taking action to support vulnerable communities. This year, the company’s efforts centered on helping newcomers and women. Interac worked alongside community partners to create meaningful, purpose-driven engagement opportunities for both the community and employees throughout the week.
Lunch & Learn with Community Partners
To kick off the week of activities, Interac employees sat down with Senior Programs Manager, Diana Monges, at Working Women Community Centre (WWCC) and Julie Warrington, Senior Manager, Community Investment at United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT) for a fireside chat about the work their organizations do to support women and newcomers. As a charitable partner during our 2024 Giving Week campaign, Interac proudly supported WWCC— a United Way partner agency and Toronto’s largest settlement agency dedicated to empowering newcomer women and their families as they begin a new life in Canada. This session provided an in-depth look at the challenges faced by these vulnerable communities and explored ways Interac employees can contribute to the mission of WWCC.
City & Shoreline Clean Up
National Volunteer Week also underscored the importance of environmental stewardship. With garbage pickers, bags, and gloves in hand, nearly 100 employees in Toronto and Ottawa set out to clean up communities. In partnership with the Waterfront Business Improvement Association’s Clean Streets Team program in Toronto and the City of Ottawa’s Cleaning the Capital program, these cleanups supported local small businesses by keeping their storefronts and surroundings clean.
Building Financial Confidence Summit
Interac remains steadfast in its commitment to build financial and digital confidence in Canadians and newcomers. In partnership with ACCES Employment and TD, Interac held its second annual Building Financial Confidence Summit. This event welcomed nearly 200 newcomers to Canada and provided them with an opportunity to learn how to better manage and protect their finances as they begin this new chapter in Canada. Hundreds of employees from Interac and TD participated in the speed mentoring session where they were able to guide attendees on employment opportunities in the finance and technology sectors.
Site Visit and Community Gardening
National Volunteer Week wrapped up with a site visit to WWCC and their community garden. Manzura Nazaramonova, the Food Security and Garden Coordinator at WWCC, shared the work that is being done to fight food insecurity in the community. One way that WWCC works towards improving food security is through the Oriole Community Garden, where residents are welcome to sign up for a growth box and plant their own crops. Interac employees, alongside WWCC volunteers, weeded growth boxes and loosened the soil in preparation for compost that will be delivered in the coming weeks, just in time for community members to begin planting. In Ottawa, employees collected donations for House to Home, a not-for-profit organization which donates items to refugees, including furnishings and clothing.
National Volunteer Week empowers Interac employees with resources and opportunities to give back to their communities. The initiative not only encourages active participation but also keeps employees informed about Interac’s ongoing investments in the community, inspiring them to contribute meaningfully year-round.
“Previously, I was not aware of all the community impact work that Interac does,” Divyanshu said. “But by taking part in National Volunteer Week, I learned about the different types of causes and organizations that Interac supports, which gave me a chance to bond with my coworkers and grow a newfound appreciation for these activities.”
Curious about our community impact initiatives? Learn more about them here.
