Raising his voice for those who can’t raise theirs

Results Canada fights for the political will to end global poverty

Volunteers
By: AV Kitching Posted: 6:00 AM CDT Monday, Aug. 24, 2026

Sitting at home on a wintry day in March last year, Japneet Singh listened intently as members of grassroots advocacy organization Results Canada began their online presentation on the prevalence of tuberculosis in rural India.

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Singh knew all about the reality of the disease. Before he moved to Canada in 2013 he had seen family members affected by the bacterial infection which, in its active form, can damage the lungs, spine, brain and kidneys.

Despite being preventable and curable, TB persists among marginalized groups and is closely linked with those experiencing extreme poverty.

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS
Japneet Singh volunteers with Results Canada, an organization that advocates to end extreme poverty.

The highly infectious disease spreads quickly through transient populations facing housing insecurity and those living in overcrowded homes.

In Manitoba, TB is classified as an ongoing endemic issue.

“A friend of mine had told me about Results Canada and their call-to-action on tuberculosis,” Singh says. “I am really passionate about health equity, so I joined the online meeting and that is how I connected with the organization.

A grassroots non-profit organization, Results Canada’s mission is to generate the political will to end extreme poverty.

According to the UN, Extreme poverty is defined as surviving on less than US$3 per person per day.

In 2026 figures show 826 million people — or one in 10 worldwide — live in extreme poverty, unable to access health care, education, water and sanitation.

Led by staff, Results Canada volunteers are taught how to successfully demand the right to health equity, quality education and economic inclusion for all, using a combination of conversation, education and action.

Writing letters to various publications, posting vital information on social media and participating in campaigns and fundraisers are some of the ways volunteers contribute to the cause.

Singh’s current volunteer role is that of a letter-writer.

Volunteer opportunities

The following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can help people find opportunities. To learn more about its programs and services, go to wfp.to/volunteers or call 204-477-5180.

The Good Neighbours Active Living Centre’s home maintenance program is looking for volunteers to help connect community members with local service providers. They are looking for people with either a Monday, Wednesday or Thursday availability. Volunteers must be aged 55 or older. Volunteers will listen to voicemail requests, return calls and match individuals with the appropriate service provider using a list of active providers on a computer. Volunteers can complete this role from home with access to a computer and phone, or in person at the centre. Volunteers should be comfortable communicating by phone and enjoy helping others. For more information contact Aby at hmprogram@gnalc.ca or phone 204-806-1303. Deadline is Nov. 30.

Kavod Thrift Store is seeking friendly, reliable volunteers to support a variety of roles, including customer service on the sales floor, sorting and organizing donations, assisting with special events, and driving to pick up donated items from community members. Training will be provided for all positions. Apply online: whttp://wfp.to/iRa. Deadline is Dec. 30.

Basketball Manitoba and the Winnipeg Minor Basketball Association are seeking passionate volunteers to serve as head coaches or assistant coaches in their community basketball programs. Coaches will teach basketball skills at practices and games, foster a positive and inclusive team environment, and help young athletes develop both on and off the court. No prior coaching experience is required, as training and resources are provided. The weekly time commitment is flexible and ranges from three to six hours. Apply by email: info@wmba.ca or online: http://wfp.to/iRM. Deadline is Oct. 1.

Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba needs event day volunteers for its 37th Annual Teddy Bears’ Picnic. The Teddy Bears’ Picnic is an exciting free community event that relies on volunteers. Be part of this Winnipeg tradition by sharing your time and talent. Areas in need of volunteers include: craft tent, face painting tent, games attendants, green team and more. Shifts may vary based on volunteer duty, but the majority have two shifts available on Sunday, Sept. 27, either 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 12-4:30 p.m. Apply online: bttr.im/liqba. Deadline is Sept. 20.

Adopt a grandparent at Oakview Place Extendicare! This volunteer role involves one-on-one visits with a resident. Activities may include playing games or card games such as cribbage or bridge, reminiscing and conversation, going for walks, doing crafts, and reading together. Experience playing card games is considered an asset. The time commitment is flexible but requires a minimum of 20 minutes per resident visited. Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, Spanish, Italian, Punjabi speakers are welcome. Apply by email: jbabineau@extendicare.com or by phone: 204-888-3005 ext. 241. Deadline is Sept. 30.

The Red River Zone of the Canadian Ski Patrol provides first aid services in southern Manitoba at the ski hills of Springhill, Holiday Mountain and Falcon Ridge and cross country at Windsor Park Nordic Centre. They provide first aid services for a variety of events that extend over the summer months. Advanced first aid training is provided, flexible schedule, ski/snowboard/nordic experience is preferred but not required. To learn more, check out the patrol’s open house at Sport Manitoba (145 Pacific Ave., Winnipeg) Sept. 10, 6:30-9 p.m. or reach out online through skipatrol.ca.

The volunteer committee for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is seeking a volunteer to act as treasurer and bookkeeper to assist in managing the committee’s financial operations. Accounting or bookkeeping experience is required, and non-profit experience would be an asset. Candidates would be required to attend monthly meetings and executive meetings. Interested candidates are asked to apply to: Communications: mccullochp@shaw.ca or the president, Arlene Skull at arleneskull@gmail.com. Deadline is Sept. 8.

Volunteers needed for free community festival taking place on Sept. 11–13 at Graham Avenue and surrounding area, downtown Winnipeg. The Weekender is a free, three-day downtown community festival featuring food truck wars, an artisan market, live music and entertainment, family activities, three-on-three basketball, Winnipeg Pro Wrestling, an adventure zone and more. Organizers are looking for volunteers to help with a variety of roles throughout the weekend, including event support, information and guest services, programming areas and general festival assistance. A variety of shifts are available throughout the three days. To volunteer, visit http://wfp.to/iRx.

The Canadian Red Cross needs volunteers. The Red Cross can show you how to help when disaster strikes. Apply at wfp.to/0pE, volunteer@redcross.ca or 1-844-818-2155.

“Every month we have a specific task that you can find on the Results Canada website and we write letters according to that. In 2025, during a replenishment cycle for aid, I penned letters to editors across the country urging the federal government to maintain its support for global health through the Global Fund,” he says, pointing out that in November 2025, the federal government pledged to invest a total of $1.02 billion over three years (2026-2028) as part of the fund’s eighth replenishment.

The organization’s most recent campaign shifts the focus to pandemic preparedness through the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Singh says, sharing that he regularly writes, edits and sends his letters to approximately 15 publications across the country every month. He is currently working on opinion pieces in hopes of having them published in a newspaper.

“I believe that will be very effective, as well,” he says. “I can use my skills and my voice in a way that can make a positive change for others.

“I feel that when you talk to parliamentarians, when your letters get published in the newspaper or amplified on social media, it creates awareness and fosters discussion among people reading it.”

Unlike traditional boots-on-the-ground volunteering, where aid is given directly to those in need, advocacy works behind-the-scenes to change the minds of people with actual power to end extreme poverty.

Shifting government policy takes time — “it’s not going to happen overnight” — but when ordinary citizens come together to lobby for change, the ripple effect is massive and can benefit us all, he adds.

“It’s so easy to get lost in the comforts of living in a developed Western country. This plants a seed in the minds of people so they don’t forget what’s happening outside of their homes and territories,” he says.

While he concedes it can seem like an uphill task to make change on this level, Singh remains dedicated to the cause.

“It might be disheartening when you see things that don’t happen in the way they should,” he says. “But in general, nothing is easy in life. Even when you think it won’t make a difference you have to keep going, because eventually it will make a difference.

“Canada is a country where kindness is a virtue and not a weakness. It’s a country that stands for peace, not war. That’s what motivates me, that’s why I volunteer with Results. Because in a world where people want to be at war, those of us who can must try to address the things that truly matter: health equity, good education and an end to extreme poverty.”

If you know a special volunteer, please contact AV.Kitching@freepress.mb.ca

AV Kitching
Reporter

AV Kitching is an arts and life writer at the Free Press. She has been a journalist for more than two decades and has worked across three continents writing about people, travel, food, and fashion. Read more about AV.

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AV Kitching
Reporter