![[Blog Header] National Volunteer Week 2025](https://www.bigsisters.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-Header-National-Volunteer-Week-2025-1024x585.jpg "[Blog Header] National Volunteer Week 2025")
Matida’s Journey: Becoming The Mentor She Once Needed
“I intend to be the change I once needed, and found in Big Sisters.” – Matida
This Volunteer Week we decided to check in with one of Big Sisters brightest lights, Matida. As a Little Sister, Matida worked with Study Buddy mentors to work towards her dream of a career in healthcare. Matida went on to join Big Sisters Bright Futures Education Fund Scholarship program, speaking under the spotlight at our 2023 Soiree Gala event along the way where she shared her story up to that point. Now, Matida has come full circle by signing up to become a volunteer mentor as she continues her studies in public health and data analytics and looks to inspire the next generation.
Beginnings in Canada
Matida’s story begins when she was five, arriving in Canada from Senegal with her family. What followed were years of frequent relocation—from Quebec to Saskatchewan to Vancouver—before finally settling in Burnaby. With each move came a new school, a new education system, and a new set of challenges.
“I often felt out of place, and like I was trying to catch up,” she said. “It wasn’t only the academics that challenged me, it was the loneliness, the instability, and the silent weight of knowing my parents were already fighting their own battles to build a better future for us.”
That’s when her mother found an ad for the Big Sisters Study Buddy program.
Finding a Match: Mentorship Makes a Difference
“When I recently asked my mother why she reached out,” Matida shared, “she told me: ‘We knew you were capable, but we didn’t know how to help you. We needed someone who did.’”
Since joining Big Sisters Study Buddy program, Matida has had three amazing mentors—each one helping shape her journey. But it was her most recent match, Sophie, who made a particularly lasting impact.
“With Sophie’s support, my grades drastically improved. I went from struggling with C’s and D’s in Grade 10 math and science to graduating with an A average across all subjects.”
Sophie helped Matida master study strategies, exam prep, and post-secondary planning. She even attended career fairs with Matida and helped her prepare for interviews for the Big Sisters Bright Futures Scholarship—offering support while managing her own final university semesters and applying to medical school.
“In the end, Sophie wasn’t just a mentor,” Matida said. “She was a guiding force. A trusted adult. A steady presence during some of the most uncertain times in my life. She was a friend. And more than anything, she saw potential in me before I even saw it in myself.”
The Impact: Confidence, Opportunity, and Paying It Forward
Their match opened doors Matida never thought possible. The Bright Futures Scholarship gave her the financial freedom to explore her interests without worrying about placing a burden on her family.
At the 2023 Big Sisters Soirée Gala, where Matida first shared her story, she connected with several health professionals—including a pediatric neuroradiologist. That connection led to her co-authoring her first scientific research paper, presented at the American Society of Neuroradiology Conference.
“I still remember sitting at my desk, staring at the final submission after months of coordination and work. I cried tears of joy, because for the first time, I truly saw myself in this field.”
That confidence gave her the courage to take another leap: a semester abroad in the UK. “I left behind everything familiar, stepping into a new country, an unfamiliar education system, and a completely different way of life. And this time… it was by choice.”
She credits her Study Buddy mentors with giving her the resilience and self-belief to take on new challenges, even when they were scary.
Looking Forward: The Ripple Effect of Mentorship
Now studying at University, Matida continues to give back. She collaborates with Big Sisters’ My Voice, My Power! program on the Youth Advisory Committee and is passionate about health equity and advocacy. Matida is committed to creating systems where individuals and communities feel “heard, seen, and valued.”
“I intend to be the change I once needed, and found in Big Sisters.”
Matida is the perfect role model for any girl or gender-diverse youth and passes the baton as it was once passed to her by family members and mentors alike. “My mother once told me: ‘Your passions are valid, and you should never belittle them to fit someone else’s expectations.’ My mentor reinforced this principle, and it has been the driving force behind my resilience and positive outlook on life.”
“I am proud to stand as just one example of the hundreds of lives transformed by Big Sisters. Imagine—if only one person like Sophie could change the trajectory of my life, what happens when we support hundreds and thousands more?”
This Volunteer Week, Be the Difference
Whether you’re a volunteer, donor, or advocate—your belief in the power of mentorship fuels stories like Matida’s. Each act of support creates ripples that last a lifetime.
“That is the Power of Mentorship,” Matida said.
And we couldn’t agree more.
Follow the link for more information about becoming a volunteer mentor and take the first step in the journey of a lifetime today.