Empower Work Volunteer Q&A with Daniela

This post is part of our peer counselor Q&A series, which shares perspectives of our dedicated and talented volunteers about why they joined Empower Work.

Daniela is a creative professional with a background in marketing, currently working as a freelance designer and photographer. She volunteered with Empower Work for two years with 123 hours on the text line, drawn by the organisation’s power of making an impact. For Daniela, every project is an opportunity to make a human difference, and volunteering with Empower Work became one of the most meaningful chapters of her journey.

What inspired you to volunteer at Empower Work? 

I remember it was New Year’s Eve when I was looking for volunteering opportunities. I’d volunteered with many organizations before, but only a few felt like they were truly making a difference in people’s lives. When I saw Empower Work, it felt like magic. A project built to solve a real problem in a clear, actionable way. I applied right away. 

What’s a moment that deeply moved you on the text line?

The conversations are all so different and they all make you feel something. You can’t talk with someone and stay indifferent to their pain. The ones that will stay with me forever are the moments when I felt a real connection with someone seeking help. Sometimes, people let their guard down and open up. It was beautiful to witness and suddenly, helping became so much easier because I understood what they truly cared about.

Have you ever logged off a shift and thought about a conversation for days? What stayed with you?

I’ve always been deeply moved by helping the younger generation because I remember myself at the start of my career. Chats with young professionals made me happy: they were trying so hard to grow, to fail safely, and find their voice in a world that doesn’t always make space for them. It made me reflect on where they might be in five or ten years  and I cheer for every single one of them.

What skills have you developed from volunteering that you didn’t expect?

I felt confident to apply to Empower Work partly because so many friends came to me with their work and life problems. They always said I helped them see the bigger picture more clearly. But helping friends you relate to is one thing, talking with someone whose life experience is completely different. That was hard at first. But through training and hours on the line, I learned to truly empathize even with people whose stories were nothing like mine. Thanks to [the training] I can listen, guide, and support not because I’ve gone through similar experiences but because I learned to listen and help. I think I’m a better human because of these conversations.

How has your volunteer experience at Empower Work changed your perspective on the world of work? 

I volunteered during a time when many people were job-hunting for months with no success. It was heartbreaking to hear their struggles knowing they were doing everything right, yet the job market was slow. Some people were especially vulnerable financially, and I knew it wasn’t about their skills but about market trends. And no matter how hard you try, those kinds of experiences shake your confidence.

What is your favorite aspect about being a volunteer at Empower Work?

You can sign in for just a couple of hours and make a real difference in someone’s life. How beautiful is that? Helping without expecting anything back and knowing you did.

Have you dealt with difficult situations at work yourself?

Ah, so many. And no matter how much you coach others, it’s incredibly hard to coach yourself. It takes deep reflection and brutal honesty which is why I truly appreciated those informal chats with other coaches. Sometimes, they helped me the same way we helped the texters

Anything else you’d like to share? 

Empower Work will stay with me for the rest of my life. I hope more people discover this amazing platform that helps so many in quiet, beautiful ways. And I strongly recommend it to anyone who’s either seeking job advice or ready to learn how to help those who are.