Professional Volunteer Testimonials
Professional Volunteer Testimonials
(February 10th-March 19th, 2025)
Katrina Fackelmann - NCCO Rehab - OT
The clients and staff at ASSA were all very kind and friendly. It was lovely working with the clients on their various goals; they displayed perseverance, respect and a good sense of humor.
(Jan 21 - Feb 21, 2025)
Kimberley Li
I had an amazing experience at ASSA. I loved the opportunity to live and work alongside people with disabilities, as well as the local staff. Everyone was incredibly accommodating and welcoming, and they routinely checked in to ensure I was having a positive experience.
(May 25 to June 12, 2024)
Tracey Norman-Rice
This is my second trip to ASSA as a supervisor for speech-language pathology students. The speech-language therapist and speech trainers have been very welcoming and demonstrate an eagerness to learn. The speech trainers continue to stive for excellence by continuing to further their knowledge and understanding of the complexity of language delays and disorders. They are learning from the students as the students learn from them. This is a wonderful opportunity to transfer skills.
(Feb 10 to March 24, 2025 )
Lauren Saletsky - OT
Oh, what an experience this has been! I feel grateful to have gained such valuable experience and to have significantly developed my overall occupational therapy skills. Being immersed in a different culture, learning how to provide care with resources that differ from what I’m used to back home, and forming meaningful connections with both staff and clients have been truly rewarding. The resilience, kindness, smiles, generosity, and strong sense of camaraderie I’ve witnessed here have been beautiful to observe and have moved me countless times. I’m truly thankful for this unforgettable experience. Thank you, ASSA! 🙂
(May 12th – July 18th, 2025 )
Sunny Kim - SLP
My placement at Amar Seva Sangam was a meaningful and enriching experience, both professionally and personally. I had the opportunity to work with children in an early intervention setting, apply clinical knowledge in a real-world context, and engage in cross-cultural collaboration with dedicated staff and professionals. I contributed an AAC manual and delivered a training session for speech trainers, which allowed me to explore sustainable, practical solutions in a global health setting.
While there were unique challenges with communication and language barriers, these experiences also helped me grow in adaptability, advocacy, and independent problem-solving—skills that are essential in any clinical setting. The support from many of the staff, particularly the guesthouse maintenance team and kitchen staff, made the experience incredibly welcoming and comfortable.
Overall, this placement deepened my understanding of global health, inclusive education, and the value of interprofessional collaboration. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to ASSA’s mission and to have learned from such a unique and inspiring environment.
(Feb 10 to March 24, 2025 )
Aimee Kondor - OT
The project was of interest as its low cost to produce and patients do experience pressure sores commonly. The results of the project showcased that with resources available to ASSA, its possible to create cushions for patients who are not able to access more expensive cushions like ROHO, which sometimes don’t work for particular clients and need to be well maintained, which isn’t always possible with limited resources. The paper based technology cushion with the pressure mapping system that is available on site is a possible option to support certain patients
(Feb 10 to March 24, 2025)
Kirsten Anderson - OT
Completing my placement at ASSA challenged me to use my creativity to develop solutions and therapy interventions. The resources available are different from what we have access to in Canada and as such, it was a very good learning opportunity to come up with tools and strategies using different materials and resources. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at ASSA and hope that the work I did will continue to have an impact on the clients I worked with and the organization as a whole. The highlight of my time at ASSA was definitely centered around the people that I met, both staff and patients. The relationships that were built led to many conversations about culture, food, holidays, working styles, and so much more. Getting to share my experiences with local people and hearing about theirs resulted in new learnings that go both ways.
(Feb 10 to March 24, 2025 )
Stephanie King - OT
The highlight of my time spent at ASSA were the unique and lovely individuals who helped make it a welcoming environment. Being fully immersed in the culture had a profound impact on my learning experience and gifted me with a new lens I will carry forward into my future practice as an occupational therapist.
(September 3rd, 2024 – October 25th, 2024 )
Amanda Cinelli-Faia - OT (Mcgill University)
I spent 2 months at ASSA as an occupational therapy student in my final clinical placement. The placement was such an enriching and unique experience and allowed me to learn a lot and grow as a future clinician. I developed a deeper understanding of how culture, community, and resource availability can influence therapeutic approaches and outcomes, which has expanded my perspective on client-centered care. Overall, this placement helped me refine my clinical skills and taught me the importance of cultural understanding, and creative problem-solving in practice.
(September 3rd, 2024 – October 25th, 2024 )
Véga Leclerc - OT (Mcgill University)
My placement at Amar Seva Sangam was a great learning experience. I gained practical skills and a better understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities. Learning about this new culture will be valuable for my future practice, enhancing my ability to work effectively in diverse environments.
(October 28th – December 19th, 2024 )
Florence Lafleur-Gagnon - PT (Sherbrooke University)
My placement at ASSA has been an incredibly enriching and transformative experience, both professionally and personally. Working with a diverse neurological patient population in a resource-limited setting challenged me to think creatively and adapt my clinical skills to meet the unique needs of the patients. I gained valuable insights into neuro-rehabilitation, particularly in understanding how cultural and socioeconomic factors influence patient care and recovery.
On a personal level, my time at ASSA broadened my perspective on global healthcare and reinforced the importance of empathy, adaptability, and cultural humility in physiotherapy practice. It was an opportunity to grow not only as a clinician but also as an individual committed to making meaningful contributions to the community I serve.
