Kai, 3^rd year undergraduate student

Volunteering has given me more than I have given. It opens up my perspective on so many things, the intrinsic sense of satisfaction I got from volunteering -- it’s just amazing. It leaves me thinking about how we could collectively make the world a better place.

As a brief introduction to myself, I am Kai, currently a third year undergraduate student studying Electronics and Computer Science.  

I first started volunteering in Edinburgh in December 2018. I volunteer with Linknet, an organisation which provides mentoring services to ethnic minorities in Edinburgh. After going through a training session, I am assigned to be a mentor to a Syrian refugee -- his name is Muhannad. This suits me as I am passionate about the refugee crisis, which back in my home country Malaysia is quite a critical issue as well. My task is to help him with his conversational English and to assist him in finding a job locally. 

I meet with him once every week. During our meetings, we chat about general things. I help him build his CV and we apply for jobs together. He lacks confidence when speaking English. I play a role to correct his mistakes, but more importantly, reassuring him that he is doing really well. He was an aviation technician back in Syria, however we have a really hard time getting him a job here, even if it is just an entry level job.

As weeks and months go by, we develop a good relationship. We talked about life, we shared each other’s culture and he told me about his journey from Syria to Edinburgh. Through these conversations, it gives me an insight on the privileges that I’ve been enjoying since I was young. Indeed, there is a very different part of the world out there.  

Last year, I took up the role of Community Outreach Ambassador of the Volunteering Service. Our responsibility is to spread volunteering awareness among students. I speak to students about the volunteering opportunities we have in the university, as I truly appreciate what volunteering has given to me and hope to spread the joy. 

We’ve always talked about how volunteering will help make a difference in the community. However, sometimes I can’t help but wonder, volunteering has in fact given me more than I have given. It opens up my perspective on so many things, the intrinsic sense of satisfaction I got from volunteering -- it’s just amazing. It leaves me thinking about how we could collectively make the world a better place. So why not try out something you are interested in, who knows how volunteering will affect you?