Finding Purpose Through Volunteering

This experience has been nothing short of incredible, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of Sembrando Paz y Esperanza . Last June, I lost my wife to frontotemporal dementia , and in the months that followed, I knew I needed to do something that had a positive impact —something meaningful. I had always wanted to try volunteering, but I never expected it to be this rewarding .

Yenni, Sara, Diego, André, and the kids have been so welcoming; they’ve made me feel at home from day one. One of the most surprising things about this journey has been my rapid progress in Spanish . In just a short time, I’ve gone from A1 to mid-A2 , which has only deepened my connection with the people around me.

Another realization is that, despite not getting paid for this work, I feel more committed to it than many paid jobs I’ve had in the past . In fact, I’m seeing how I can use my skills to make a real difference. Coming from an IT background , I’ve been teaching young adults about cloud computing and AI , helping them develop valuable digital skills for their future.

But my work here is expanding beyond tech. In the coming weeks, I’ll be teaching about money and finance , helping young adults understand good and bad debt, investments, and financial literacy —critical knowledge for anyone looking to build a better future. We’ve also reached out to Microsoft to get the foundation enrolled in their nonprofit program , which could open up incredible opportunities for the organization.

This experience has been a reminder of how purpose can come from the most unexpected places . I came here hoping to give something, but I’ve already received so much more in return.