Bhoomi Palta’s journey with Langs has been a long and rewarding one.
In 2021, the youth volunteer received the Lorie Delane Youth Leadership Award, an award presented to a young person who has developed and applied leadership skills at Langs.
“It was a big shout out to all her help during the pandemic,” Darcy Edwards, Youth Wellness Hub Coordinator Langs, said about Palta.
“Everybody thinks virtual is easier or less work, but it’s four or five hours more of prep work and the pay off isn’t always there. You don’t always get to see their reaction, you get a little bit less of that interaction, especially on that pre-recorded stuff right? It’s tough to sell that sometimes to teens.”
The pandemic has caused Langs to increase its online presence through social media and creating virtual programming and activities that can be done at home. Throughout this time, Palta has been involved with creating and supporting virtual programs for teens. For four to five hours a week, she helped put together take home kits, and act in tutorial videos for different arts and craft projects.
While it’s a pivot from the previous in-person programming at Langs, Palta said she is happy to help.
“Working with Langs to create ways for the community to come together at such a time when people aren't going out and needing that social interaction, it was fun for me to create something that made them excited,” she said about the experience.
“Bhoomi’s been super creative through this entire time too,” said Edwards on Palta's involvement right now. “She’s super consistent in coming to meetings, which always isn’t true about most teens, so we’re always appreciative of her just being sold out and sold in, ready to help wherever we need it.”
Since she was eight years old, Palta has been coming to Langs. She said her older brother was a volunteer first.
“Way back when I was in elementary school, I started as a participant and I went to various programs where my brother worked,” said Palta, who is now 16. “Then, I started volunteering around the ages of 12 to 13.”
Palta was first a leader in training in Langs summer camp programs and then joined the youth council.
“We made programs for the teens and the youth in our community so they could drop in for a few nights to do something with us,” said Palta. “It was a big jump as well because the ages that we were working with because the summer camps were Grade 1 to Grade 5 and the YC we focused on ages 10 to 15.”
Edwards recalls first meeting Palta when she started volunteering.
“I do remember her brother working at Langs, and all of a sudden, this little sister showing up and coming to all the programs and doing all of the things,” said Edwards. “After the summer, she was all of a sudden wanting to volunteer and get involved, and I think at our first youth council meeting we had pizza and she said, ‘Pizza! We have pizza!’”
Through volunteering, Palta said she learned how to engage with kids of different ages and create programming catered to teenagers.
“It was kind of different creating those programs for them because you want to fit what’s trending at that certain time,” said Palta.
As a volunteer, she has met a lot of cool people and has developed a stronger sense of community with her peers. Her experience has also resulted in Palta becoming interested in a career where she can help people, whether in law or social services.
“Something that can help people and aid them for a better future,” she said.
