Bilingual Volunteer Fosters Inclusion While Bridging Cultures

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Iqra Ameen. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

Iqra Ameen is a passionate advocate for cultural representation and community support, dedicating her time to empowering underserved communities in Delaware. As a volunteer with Charity Crossing since 2021, Iqra’s involvement spans various initiatives, from organizing environmental events like coastal cleanups to aiding in monthly charity giveaway events. These events serve over 150 attendees, and her efforts in outreach and event coordination have made essential resources more accessible to the local community.

A standout aspect of Iqra’s service is her role with the Hispanic American Association of Delaware, where she leverages her bilingual English-Spanish skills to serve as a translator during community events. By bridging language barriers, Iqra ensures that Spanish-speaking individuals can fully benefit from the services provided, fostering a sense of inclusion and support. Her linguistic abilities also extend to Hindi, Sindhi and Arabic, amplifying her impact across diverse groups.

Beyond translation and charity events, Iqra contributes to social causes like autism awareness walks and environmental conservation initiatives. Whether organizing supplies, assisting with donations or participating in awareness campaigns, her multifaceted service demonstrates a profound commitment to making a difference. Iqra’s work shows just how important cultural understanding is in efforts to create a more inclusive and engaged community.

Through her efforts with multiple organizations and her dedication to fostering connections across languages and cultures, Iqra exemplifies the power of individual action in building stronger, more inclusive communities. Her service not only provides immediate support to those in need but also inspires others to embrace the values of empathy and engagement.

Tell us about your volunteer role.

Over the years, I’ve grown to enjoy volunteering with my family, whether it be participating at a giveaway event or unloading and sorting donations at the warehouse. I didn’t fully understand the importance of volunteering until 2020, but by 2022, I could see the heavy impact especially after seeing the happiness on people’s faces when they find items that can help them.

As a student from an English-Spanish Charter School at ASPIRA, I found a role as a volunteer to provide assistance to people with a language barrier for the event as the lead youth volunteer for the Hispanic American Association of Delaware (HAAD). My assistance played a crucial role in helping Spanish speakers so that they don’t miss out on the benefits of community resources. Language barriers shouldn’t stop community members from getting the help they need, so I help spread the word about giveaway donations and other important details.

During community events, I also assist the community one-on-one by assisting them in understanding forms, guidelines and other important information. This guarantees their full participation and use of all services offered. In addition to helping with cleanup after events, I also help with the distribution and organization of donations, household items, pet supplies, holiday supplies and canned or dry food. I work together with community members and peers to ensure that everyone has access to necessary help and resources.

Why is this issue so important to you?

My personal connection to this issue is that I grew up in a multilingual household and have seen the difficulties faced by Hispanic communities, especially those who do not speak English as their first language. I am aware of the importance of making people feel seen, heard and included as well as the problems that language barriers can put on people. This can impact the ability of many Hispanic people to better their lives. Knowing that even simple acts of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s life makes it extremely meaningful to me.

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?

I decided to volunteer after seeing the difficulties some communities experience, especially those who have trouble navigating systems because of language barriers. Having been raised in a multilingual environment, it became easy to recognize that my language skills could possibly help alleviate this issue. I came to see how much more I could do to support the community, especially those who often feel left out. I was more motivated to use my skills to ensure that no one is left behind, especially when attempting to access essential services, and my willingness to support the Hispanic community is only getting stronger.

What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?

I plan to continue supporting HAAD in expanding their program to reach various heights with focus on youth engagement and creating more opportunities for students, especially bilingual/multilingual youth, to get involved in community services. In the long term, I hope to help broaden the organization’s efforts by making programs that can be accessible to diverse communities, especially those facing language barriers. My ultimate goal is to empower the Hispanic community in Delaware by offering assistance.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

The most rewarding aspect of volunteering is making a significant impact on others’ lives and our community. After each serve, seeing smiles and happiness on people’s faces is priceless and great courage to keep contributing to the community.

Tell us about future partnerships, programs or events that you are excited about.

I’m excited about youth programs that inspire me to take up leadership and volunteer roles that can help people, especially those who are inexperienced or come from bilingual and multilingual backgrounds. In addition to providing worthwhile chances for development, the initiatives will promote a better understanding between individuals from various backgrounds.

I’m also excited about the 2024–2025 volunteer appreciation award ceremony, where I’ll have the privilege of serving as the event’s pre-MC. It’s a wonderful chance to use my earned skills and my effort and commitment to people who have improved our community.

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?

Start by identifying something that you are passionate about. Volunteering is an opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people and make a positive impact in your community – for which I am grateful to Charity Crossing for giving me chances to do. It also teaches responsibility, building relationships, teamwork and developing new skills. Show up, get involved and support the community.

What do you want people to learn from your story?

I want people to learn that anyone, no matter who they are, can make a difference. My ability to speak different languages has made a meaningful impact, but everyone has something of value to contribute. Whether it’s language, time or experience, you can always find a way to help. I hope my story inspires others to recognize the power of individual action and the value of community engagement.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Iqra? Find local volunteer opportunities.