Our Peer-to-Peer program connects people grieving a loss with a trained volunteer, a “Villager”, two years out from a similar loss to provide empathetic support and companionship. Through this program, Carson’s Village is able to connect people in need of support with those who would like to give back. If you are interested in volunteering, don’t hesitate to apply today here.
Read below for an interview with our Villager, Ali A. and his experience supporting a Peer through loss.
What inspired you to become a Villager with Carson’s Village?
My inspiration comes from personal experience with great loss at a young age. I lost my mother just weeks before my 11th birthday due to a heart attack. She was also pregnant at the time, and due to the premature birth, my soon-to-be baby sister only survived for about a month before passing as well. Prior to that, my mother endured a verbally and physically abusive second marriage, which also affected my sister and me. Additionally, I lost both of my grandmothers in the same month and a grandfather during my adolescence. Loss has followed me throughout my life, but I am grateful for the support of family, friends, and my own resilience, which helped me cope in healthy ways, especially in more recent years through therapy and self-growth.
What inspired me to become a Villager was the desire to be that positive and healthy coping mechanism for someone else. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to navigate grief, especially without the right support. It took me years of hard work and perseverance to process my losses, and I want to be a safe space for others so they don’t have to go through it alone.
Can you share a meaningful moment or experience you’ve had as a Villager?
Rather than one particular moment, the most meaningful experiences for me are when someone opens up in a deep, emotional, and vulnerable way. Being able to provide a safe and comforting space for them, listening to their story, and sharing personal experiences in return allows us to connect on a truly human level. Those moments of understanding, empathy, and connection are incredibly powerful, and I cherish being there for someone in a way that makes them feel supported.
What has being a Villager meant to you personally?
Being a Villager has meant offering the kind of support that I didn’t always have when I was younger. I used to struggle with bottling up my emotions, which led to emotional outbursts and difficulty processing grief. Now, I have the chance to be a positive, healthy outlet for others—to be someone who genuinely cares and can provide comfort in a way that makes a difference. That means everything to me.
What would you say to someone considering becoming a Villager?
I would tell them that it’s an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling experience. Loss is something we all face in life, yet we all experience and cope with it in different ways. Being able to support someone in their grief and learn from each other is truly powerful. The time commitment is minimal, but the impact is immeasurable. If someone is hesitant or unsure about whether they’d be a good fit, I’d encourage them to take a leap of faith, go through the training, and experience firsthand how beautiful and meaningful this work is.
Any advice for those supporting someone through grief and loss?
The most important thing is to meet people where they are. Grief is deeply personal, and everyone copes at their own pace. Don’t push them to heal on your timeline or expect them to process things as you would—it’s not fair or realistic. Be what they need in that moment, rather than projecting what you think they should do. Also, grief isn’t linear; the stages ebb and flow, and people may revisit emotions they thought they had moved past. Finally, time doesn’t necessarily heal all wounds, but it does teach us how to live with them.
Thank you again for reaching out and for everything Carson’s Village does. I’m grateful to be part of this incredible community.