Kanchan is in the Third year of his PhD in the Earth Sciences department. He volunteers at the Third Age Project, a centre for elderly people in West Euston.
What do you do as a volunteer?
My principal responsibility is to give introductory lessons on computer & internet applications to elderly people. Additionally, I help the charity users and staff with specific computer/internet related problem and also manage the charity website.
What were your first impressions when you started volunteering?
I was a bit nervous and didn’t know what to do. I had no idea about how to run the class, what to teach as there is no course structure. The cultural difference and age gap made it worse. But very quickly I was made to feel totally comfortable there.
How do you feel about it now?
I feel proud and happy now about my volunteering job at Third Age Project. I am very much at ease with everyone at the charity- with users, staff and other volunteers. The whole environment is very comfortable and informal.
What’s the best thing about volunteering?
The best thing is the feeling of helping out someone not related to you in anyway. It is really a different experience when someone says “Thank You” and means it! You can see the difference in their face and smile. Then of course you have other advantages like networking with more people from different backgrounds.
And what’s the most challenging thing?
The most challenging thing for me was to keep patience while teaching as most people I interact with haven’t used computers before at all. Some of them are suffering from age related physical problems and a few have difficulties in communication. So sometimes it is very difficult to pass my thoughts onto them.
How has volunteering changed you?
It made be more patient, taught me how to deal with people from different backgrounds and also helped me to understand the socio-economical conditions faced by people in their third age. Overall it has made me feel better.
What difference do you feel you’ve made by volunteering?
I think, because of my volunteering, at least a few people will be comfortable in using computers and the internet for some basic applications. They won’t get scared now using a ‘mouse’! Furthermore, the charity website (designed and managed as a part of my volunteering) is helping to encourage more student volunteers to join our charity and generating a bit of funding as well.
Would you recommend the project to anyone else? If so, why?
I would be quite happy to recommend the project to others. The whole working environment is very informal and friendly, with flexible working hours. And then there are nice social gatherings too, celebrating various events from different cultures!
What do you do as a volunteer?
My principal responsibility is to give introductory lessons on computer & internet applications to elderly people. Additionally, I help the charity users and staff with specific computer/internet related problem and also manage the charity website.
What were your first impressions when you started volunteering?
I was a bit nervous and didn’t know what to do. I had no idea about how to run the class, what to teach as there is no course structure. The cultural difference and age gap made it worse. But very quickly I was made to feel totally comfortable there.
How do you feel about it now?
I feel proud and happy now about my volunteering job at Third Age Project. I am very much at ease with everyone at the charity- with users, staff and other volunteers. The whole environment is very comfortable and informal.
What’s the best thing about volunteering?
The best thing is the feeling of helping out someone not related to you in anyway. It is really a different experience when someone says “Thank You” and means it! You can see the difference in their face and smile. Then of course you have other advantages like networking with more people from different backgrounds.
And what’s the most challenging thing?
The most challenging thing for me was to keep patience while teaching as most people I interact with haven’t used computers before at all. Some of them are suffering from age related physical problems and a few have difficulties in communication. So sometimes it is very difficult to pass my thoughts onto them.
How has volunteering changed you?
It made be more patient, taught me how to deal with people from different backgrounds and also helped me to understand the socio-economical conditions faced by people in their third age. Overall it has made me feel better.
What difference do you feel you’ve made by volunteering?
I think, because of my volunteering, at least a few people will be comfortable in using computers and the internet for some basic applications. They won’t get scared now using a ‘mouse’! Furthermore, the charity website (designed and managed as a part of my volunteering) is helping to encourage more student volunteers to join our charity and generating a bit of funding as well.
Would you recommend the project to anyone else? If so, why?
I would be quite happy to recommend the project to others. The whole working environment is very informal and friendly, with flexible working hours. And then there are nice social gatherings too, celebrating various events from different cultures!
