For many, special memories are captured in photographs or small trinkets. For Amyn and Azmina, their important moments are documented in the t-shirts they collect. As supporters of World Partnership Walk, the couple has collected over three decades of volunteer t-shirts.
Volunteering with the Walk since 1987, the couple has had many roles. But their story with the Walk starts with brewing chai and coffee alongside other volunteers.
According to Amyn, the first volunteer shirts were distributed around 1987 and featured stick people walking to fight global poverty. “I remember getting a big chai stain on [that shirt]. I was never able to get that stain out! That shirt is still my favourite,” says Amyn.
However, Amyn and Azmina became loyal volunteers for more than just a keepsake. The connections they made on Walk Day with other volunteers inspired them to return year after year. “The chai tent has given us the opportunity to build bridges with other communities and work with a wide range of volunteers,” says Amyn.
Over the years, the couple has gained notoriety for their impressive collection. For the 20th anniversary of Walk, the couple was interviewed about their growing collection of Walk goods. “Apparently, word was out that we had everything. We certainly had a lot, but definitely not all,” says Amyn. While digging through their Walk memories, Amyn and Azmina discovered they had also saved the first Walk poster and invite. “We had all this material,” says Amyn, “and no way to properly display it.” When the news spread, a volunteer built them custom-made frames to showcase their Walk shirts like jerseys. “In the end, we had a full tent’s worth of items.”
Since then, Amyn and Azmina have continued to graciously share their Walk memorabilia on Walk Day in Vancouver. Each year, they add another shirt full of memories to their collection.
