Angela Kalopisis, 17, noticed significant challenges while completing the mandatory 40 volunteer hours required to graduate high school, one of them being schools are still using paper volunteer sheets. “For me, verifying these hours and submitting to my school is sometimes difficult because I’ll forget the paper,” said Kalopisis. “Even after getting assigned, it’s very easy to lose.” Kalopisis said she wanted to create a system that was more practical for students. “I wanted to create the digital passport to create a long-standing digital record that can be transferred across schools, scholarships, and anything needing volunteer recognition,” she said. The passport is available through My Volunteer Platform (MVP), a website designed by Kalopisis. She said the platform is aimed at connecting volunteers with organizations looking for support. “The volunteers come to the website and take a look at all the opportunity listing cards,” said Kalopisis. “From there, they can apply and organizations decide whether to approve or deny.” Emma Aldred, volunteer coordinator with the London Food Bank said she thinks it is a “fantastic” idea. “It’s great to have lots of different people in the community that are looking to be change makers and looking to encourage other people to volunteer,” said Aldred. The London Food Bank has roughly 10 permanent staff members, the rest of the team is made up of community volunteers. “To hear especially that our youth are sharing that passion as well as having the same mindset of finding different ways to give back but then encouraging and making it easier for people to find those opportunities,” said Aldred. “I think it is a great thing.” MVP currently has 70 volunteers and 16 registered organizations. “It’s a nice way to stay involved in your community and give back to the programs we have all benefitted from,” said Kalopisis. “I hope to continue working on this project after high school.”
