I’m an international student and I applied to volunteer for Invisible Traffick GB through the University website. I was accepted three months ago and I’ve now started volunteering after a training day.
At first, I just wanted to do something to help the community; to use my free time efficiently. I did not expect to receive anything in return, but now, looking back, I have learned a lot of things and done a lot of growing up.
Meeting the residents and understanding their backgrounds, I realised that they have a lot more disadvantages than me, but that they are always being positive and trying to move forward. If I were in their shoes, I’m not sure that I could do as well as they are doing.
I realised how lucky I am and appreciate every little thing in my life. When I have a day off, I love to go to the house and do the normal things with the residents and other volunteers. We have a chat, talk, cook, clean, do shopping, do paper craft, colour, paint, watch TV and films; all the normal things that people do in a day, which make us closer to each other.
I have also learned to cook British food and how British people do things. I see how people decorate the house, how they do gardening; the things I always love to see. We, volunteers and residents, all care about each other. We share our stories, and even our stress, and help others to overcome their problems – something that makes ITGB unique. This makes an international student like me feel warm in my heart and feel welcomed here.
