"Volunteering with Herts Welcomes Refugees lets you get involved with your local community whilst also welcoming others"

We were delighted to meet volunteer Beth at the drop-in centre and she kindly answered some of our questions about her motivation for volunteering:

You recently graduated from Southampton University with a Masters in Cultural Heritage  and spent a year in Japan as part of your undergraduate degree. Can you tell us a little bit about your background and your different interests? 

I am very passionate about history and education, and have spent the last few years studying this at university. Within this I tried to choose topics that covered a variety of different countries and focussed on social issues and marginalised identities. Now that I have completed my studies I aim to help others to connect with history and heritage, and show that the subject can be relevant and engaging to everybody! During my time at university I also volunteered with a refugee organisation in Southampton, as well as completing an internship with the University’s Sanctuary department, which helps support refugee staff and students. Alongside this I enjoy sports such as kayaking and expressing my creativity through sewing.

How did you hear about Herts Welcomes Refugees?

I found out about Herts Welcomes Refugees as I wanted to research what provisions were available for displaced people in the local area and see how I could get involved.

What led you to volunteer with Herts Welcomes Refugees?  Is there a particular motivating factor? 

During my undergraduate degree I spent a year studying abroad in Kyoto. At first, I found this very stressful as I had very limited knowledge of Japanese and found it difficult to complete government documentation and navigate daily communication. The thought came to me: if I was finding it difficult with all the support and ease I was given, how much harder must it be for displaced people who are met with bureaucratic hoops and social hostility! So, I wanted to do even a little bit to help people to feel more comfortable and confident in the UK. My desire to help support refugees only grew from here as I learned more about the asylum system, the people supported by HWR, and the lives they lead.

What does your volunteering involve?

I often help out at the Tuesday and Friday drop-in sessions. Here, I tend to support English language classes, helping people answer worksheets and facilitate conversations all with the aim of building students’ confidence in English. Occasionally I also assist in the children’s room on busy days, or help signing people in.

What do you find most challenging and most rewarding about the work

I think that the most challenging and rewarding parts of the work are directly connected, as an amazing thing about teaching is seeing improvement! It can be difficult sometimes for complete beginner learners as the communication barrier is intense. Learning can feel very strenuous for the students and so the teachers have to try to keep engagement and enthusiasm going, which can be a struggle. People in the classes tend to try very hard to improve, and it is seeing this determination – regardless whether it leads to improvement – that is most rewarding for me.

What would you say to anyone thinking of volunteering with Herts Welcomes Refugees?

Volunteering with a group like Herts Welcomes Refugees lets you get involved with your local community whilst also welcoming others into it. It is rewarding and eye-opening, and there are many different teams to get involved with. Anyone who’s thinking of volunteering with us has already taken the first step of looking into what’s going on in the local area, and with the support of the other volunteers it is an easy second step into actively getting involved!
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Thank you Beth, we are so grateful for the time you spend making a difference to refugees at the drop-in centre.