Sâdica is an active young woman who thrives on keeping herself busy with a long list of activities, charity being one of them. She is the Think Human Foundation coordinator for the region France and will share her volunteer experience.
Hello Sâdica, could you introduce yourself briefly?
My name is Sâdica, I live in Romania, and I am fascinated by multiculturalism, art, and digital technology. I have always been curious, so I am very much into reading, traveling, meeting new people, and studying languages.
Fun fact? I climbed the Kilimanjaro without proper training.
What is your role in Webhelp?
I have been with Webhelp for 11 years, with a short hiatus during this time. Based in Bucharest, I work mostly on international projects and multilingual teams as Operations Director in Webhelp Romania.
As I tend to find solutions in situations when others may see problems, I design and implement programs that structure and optimize the way organizations function.
To me, it has always been about doing the right thing, regardless of how big or small my footprint is
When did your involvement with Think Human Foundation start?
Before it was Think Human Foundation, I was involved with SHARED, the foundation of Webhelp under the Fondation de France. I started at the beginning of 2019 in parallel with my role as Operations Director in Romania. I worked as a coordinator for region France (eight countries) to develop the program that had started back in 2016.
Some of the main objectives were increasing the foundation’s activity by identifying NGOs in each country of the region and getting our employees involved in charitable acts. All our efforts have helped disadvantaged social groups supported through what has now become Think Human Foundation.
What prompted you to get involved as a coordinator?
To me, it has always been about doing the right thing, regardless of how big or small my footprint is. I’m a believer in the butterfly effect – where a small event, even the fluttering of a butterfly’s wings, can have a widespread impact on the weather, on the economy, or even on an individual halfway around the world. I got involved without expecting anything in return, maybe just knowing that someone has a slightly better life thanks to my contribution.
From a business perspective, I believe every company should cement a purpose or mission beyond just profit and employing people. Businesses must get in touch with their humanitarian side and make a difference in the quality of life for people who are not so fortunate.
How do you manage this commitment with your busy schedule?
It is about prioritization – I am a professional with multiple interests. In all honesty, I feel as though there aren’t enough hours in the day to do all the things that make me happy. Fortunately, I am well organized, and I have been developing my time management skills for many years.
Donating my own personal time to the foundation comes as a natural responsibility
All I need to do is establish the slots available to achieve my goals. Being involved in charity, whether professionally or personally, sometimes requires me to put others’ needs first. To ensure I succeed in doing that, I frequently have to set my objectives, write them down and prioritize them to make things happen.
So far, what have you gained the most from this experience as a coordinator?
On a personal level, I have experienced many moments that prompted me to reevaluate some of my decisions and think about what to put first in my development. What I have gained the most from my involvement with SHARED, and now Think Human Foundation, is cross-cultural leadership experience.
I am very fortunate to interact with extraordinary professionals and learn a lot about how we can successfully communicate with each other regardless of our backgrounds. I believe in open horizons, especially when sharing knowledge and experiences.
What are the key events that marked you as a volunteer?
There are a few key events that have defined me within the past 2 or 3 years.
Hope and Homes for Children Romania is an NGO that we have been working with since 2018. First, I would mention the time when we donated the money allocated to organizing our corporate party. The budget went to rebuilding the burned-down home of a single mother with eight children. After the house had been ready, we visited the family. I was deeply moved by the children’s positive attitude and the resilience of the mother, despite what they went through.
Likewise, with Hope and Homes for Children Romania, I run a marathon. It was the first time I worked up the courage to do such a thing as I knew it would be physically challenging. But the experience was so worth it!
Second, I was involved with another NGO that refurnished old houses for cancer patients. At one of their charity events, there were 300-400 attendees. On that occasion, I was marked by the involvement of those participants – they inspired me in the sense that miracles are possible when people come together.
Such an event showed me that caring is all we need to make changes happen