Volunteer Spotlight: Cyville Castro

Volunteer Spotlight: Cyville Castro 

Volunteers are vital to the success of our organization, and we are grateful for the hundreds of hours our volunteers dedicate to the work of the Canadian Pride Historical Society. This volunteer spotlight is for Cyville Castro, one of our Graphic Design Coordinators based out of Vancouver, BC, read more below. 

How did you first learn about the CPHS? 

I first learned about CPHS from Charity Village. I was looking for some design-related work in the non-profit sector and the organization caught my interest. Their values resonated so much with me, not only because I’m a part of the GSRD umbrella, I am also quite passionate about creating societal change through education, and CPHS gives me the opportunity to do just that. 

How do you balance your volunteer time at the CPHS with your other competing priorities? 

I take it one week at a time and avoid putting pressure on myself. I genuinely enjoy what I do at the organization, and as long as I can sustain that motivation, I will find the time to put in some work into it. It does get challenging at times. Some weeks I just have too much going on and I don’t have time for volunteer work. It’s okay. We’re a team and that means it’s okay to rely on one another especially when it gets too overwhelming. What’s important is clearly communicating with your team and enjoying the work that you do. 

What do you like the most about the CPHS? 

I like everything CPHS stands for, but I especially love how supportive everyone is in the organization. Everyone is offering their labour for free, that means there is a relaxed and friendly energy that you just won’t find anywhere else. 

What has been your favourite project at the CPHS? 

My favourite project at CPHS is the game I’ve been working on since I started volunteering here. I’m creating an educational video-game that walks you through the stories of Canadian pride history. It’s been a slow process and I’ve had to learn so many things from scratch, but it’s also been very rewarding. The goal is to create something that people will enjoy and at the same time, learn from. I’m hoping to release the first part of the game some time next year.