Elma is from Shkoder, Albania. She studied in North Cyprus and graduated with a master’s degree in Marketing Management. Despite her path in marketing, volunteering is one of her biggest passions. Her most memorable experience in volunteering is the one for Red Cross Albania right after the pandemic was over. This challenging period pushed her belief that only together and by helping each other can we progress.
“Why do you volunteer at Istanbul&I?”
Joining Istanbul&I is one of the highlights of living in Istanbul, as it quickly became one of my favorite places to be. Having had previous experiences with volunteering organizations, I knew once I arrived in Istanbul and planned to live in the city, that volunteering was one of the goals in my long-term plan. I joined Istanbul&I in November 2021 and now I'm in the position of officer for one of the most loved events, Çaytalks, where locals and foreigners join together to share experiences, backgrounds, and ideas. Being a foreigner, I know the impact this event has on our participants, and that's why the focus is for them to comfortably share ideas and know they’re in an environment where their thoughts are welcomed.
I love volunteering because of the beautiful and powerful feeling that helping one another holds. By being a part of this organization, I found not only that but the warmest, friendliest, and most joyful community, which is the core of Istanbul&I, and for that, I’m so grateful.
“Elma is one of the volunteers who made a quick impact upon joining the community! Amazingly, she volunteers 20+ hours every month and has taken a leadership position as a Çaytalks Officer. What makes her a delightful volunteer to work with is her compassion and understanding toward the team. I'm glad that Elma is a part of my team! Love you.” - Zainab Alqritli, Events Coordinator.
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