Volunteer Spotlight: Jafar Ali

Meet Jafar: Building Connections as a Mentor at CAA

Jafar joined CAA as a volunteer during his senior year at Hunter College, where he majored in Chemistry. Now in his second year of medical school at New York Medical College in Valhalla, he is on the path to becoming a psychiatrist. Despite the demands of his academic journey, Jafar’s passion for mentorship continues to shine.

“Though I can't say I experienced the same degree of struggles as the children we work with, I also had trouble communicating with others and fitting in with my peers when I was young,” Jafar shares. “I came to understand how difficult and lonely it can be to face those things alone, and I wanted to help other kids and teens avoid that feeling, if I could.”

Jafar draws inspiration from the creativity and resilience of the children he mentors. He fondly remembers Kyle, a young participant who impressed him with intricately crafted paper models of smartphones—each one a near-perfect replica of real devices. Another memorable experience was collaborating with Hao, a mentee, on a year-long project where they built a remote-controlled car out of LEGO.

Since joining CAA as a volunteer in 2019, Jafar has cherished the one-on-one connections that the Walk with U program fosters. Witnessing each child’s growth over time has been profoundly rewarding for him. His empathy, dedication, and enthusiasm have made him an integral part of the CAA community.

Written by Erica Mercado, Volunteer Spotlight is an ongoing blog series celebrating the inspiring stories of CAA volunteers.

If you're passionate about making a difference, consider joining CAA’s programs as a volunteer! Your time and skills can create meaningful change in our community. Learn more about volunteering opportunities and how you can get involved with CAA today.