On behalf of the 24/7 Support Line service, we express a very sincere congratulations to Eugene Choi, our first recipient of the new “24/7 Support Line Volunteerism Scholarship!”

Eugene has been volunteering with the service since January 2019, and is a current full-time student at Western University. As a medical sciences major, Eugene was drawn to volunteer with CMHA Middlesex by his desire to give back to the London & Middlesex community and to expand on his knowledge of mental health so that he can gain invaluable experience and understanding – to be utilized now and into the future.

As stated in his application essay: “I volunteer at CMHA because it enhances my future career goals by teaching me to grow in empathy, to treat everyone without prejudice or stigma, and to understand the side of mental illness that cannot be diagnosed or measured in the clinic. Most importantly, it reminds me of the purpose in why I pursue medicine.”

As part of the scholarship requirements, Eugene will provide 80 volunteer hours to the Support Line between October 1st, 2019 and January 6th, 2020.  We wish Eugene much success as he achieves the requirements while continuing to pursue his full-time studies in a very demanding field.

Background for the 24/7 Support Line Volunteerism Scholarship:

The CMHA Middlesex Volunteer Program receives significant support and enthusiasm from our general public. Several programs at CMHA Middlesex rely on the efforts of volunteers to operate; and volunteers enhance the services that the entire organization provides to individuals through a variety of ways. This past summer, thanks to the generosity our organization received through donated funds, a 24/7 Volunteerism Scholarship initiative was piloted to our current Support Line volunteers. The scholarship is a terrific pay-it-forward opportunity that allows us to enhance our Volunteer Program’s recognition capacities, while delivering quality empathetic listening services to our general public.

Scope of CMHA Middlesex 24/7 Support Line Volunteerism Scholarship:

What began as a pilot initiative to our current Support Line volunteer group for the 2019 fall/winter school year, the “CMHA Middlesex 24/7 Support Line Volunteerism Scholarship” will continue to offer two possible streams of scholarship awards for qualifying Support Line volunteers on an ongoing basis. The awards will be distributed based on the following parameters:

Stream 1: Summer Scholarship Award:

• Qualifying volunteers must provide a minimum of 120 hours of volunteer service, to be provided between May 1 to August 31
• Amount of award is $750

Stream 2: Fall/Winter Scholarship Award:

• Qualifying volunteers must provide a minimum of 80 hours of volunteer service, to be provided between September 1 to April 30 and will be consecutively scheduled for 3 months
• Amount of award is $500

The application process includes:

a) Eligibility:  Full-time, post-secondary school students are eligible to apply. The scholarship will be offered to currently enrolled full-time students who demonstrate proof of enrolment for the upcoming school year/term, academic proficiency and a history of previous volunteer involvement.

b) Application Process: To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must submit before the deadline:

I. Transcript of academic record from the previous school term

ii. Proof of enrolment in the next school year/term

iii. Previous/current volunteer activities

iv. A 1000-word essay that outlines why the student should be considered; how the volunteer experience will enhance their future career goals and how furthering their understanding about mental health will directly contribute to a mentally well society.

Applications are reviewed and shortlisted by designated CMHA Middlesex staff; and shortlisted candidates are then invited to participate in a screening interview. The successful candidate will be notified in advance of the timeframe of which the requisite hours are to be completed, so that shifts can be scheduled in advance.

For more information about the 24/7 Support Line service, or the Volunteerism Scholarship, please contact the Volunteer Program Coordinator at volunteers@cmhamiddlesex.ca