What do you study and which year are you in?
European Social and Political Studies, final year
Where do you volunteer?
CARILA Latin American Welfare Group
How often do you volunteer, and for how long?
Once a week, for seven months
What’s your typical session as a volunteer involve?
The great thing about volunteering for CARILA is that there are no typical sessions. I have been able to try out various roles from helping at reception, to coordinating research, to organising a newsletter and drafting policies.
What were your first impressions when you started volunteering?
I was overwhelmed by how welcoming everyone was and how keen they were for me to take a key role in developing their projects.
How do you feel about it now?
After seven months of volunteering at CARILA I really feel like part of the team. I have developed a good working relationship with all the staff and volunteers and the environment in the office has remained friendly and very positive. It has also been a great way to continue speaking Spanish after my year abroad.
What’s the best thing about volunteering?
The best thing about volunteering is definitely the opportunities I have been able to access that wouldn’t have been available to me otherwise. Through the work I have done at CARILA I have gained and developed many skills that will be essential to me when applying for jobs this summer. It has also been refreshing to spend time on something apart from my coursework and has reminded me that there’s more to life than writing essays.
And what’s the most challenging thing?
As a final year student I have had to be careful about managing my time in order to meet deadlines and keep up with my volunteering commitments. The amount of responsibility that has been given to me has also at times been daunting. However, the staff at CARILA have always been supportive and understanding and I have never felt out of my depth
How has volunteering changed you?
Before I began volunteering my life seemed to revolve around my university and social life. Working for an organisation that deals with the every day issues and problems of non-British citizens has allowed me to take a step back and gain a real perspective on life. I have also met some amazing people who I would never have met otherwise and who have been a real inspiration to me.
What difference do you feel you’ve made by volunteering?
As a small organisation CARILA really values every volunteer it has. In this way I feel that I have made a difference by providing support to the staff and volunteers and by carrying out tasks and projects that might not have been completed otherwise.
Would you recommend the project to anyone else? If so, why?
I would definitely recommend CARILA to other people, especially those who want to develop their Spanish or Portuguese language skills- although this is by no means a pre-requisite. It is a great organisation to work for, the atmosphere is always cheerful and everyone is encouraged to realise their full potential through training and skills-development. Most importantly you are treated with respect and any ideas or suggestions you have regarding your role in the organisation and the organisation as a whole are always taken into account.
