Tizi – Community House Volunteer
We’re very appreciative that one of our wonderful Community House volunteers, Tizi, took the time to contribute her journey with us for this year’s National Volunteer Week celebration! Read on to learn about her story.
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I’ve lived in Melton for approximately 45 years and am at a stage in my life where I can donate time to my community.
I did my first community course 35 to 40 years ago, learning how to use computers. That course provided training and role-play scenarios for applying for jobs and attending interviews.
This led to a successful career in office work and administration.
The reason I volunteer is to give back some of what I have received; it gives me a great deal of satisfaction along with a sense of purpose in retirement.
By volunteering with Djerriwarrh Community & Education Services, I can attend when they need me, when I am available and work in many different areas.
My biggest challenge so far has been helping someone from Myanmar with no English at all, to fill in some forms that they needed help with.
That being said, this gave me an enormous sense of achievement. We used interpreting programs, sign language and pictures to achieve a successful outcome.
I love interacting with people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, it makes me feel good and I believe I am contributing to our progress as a community.
It wasn’t too hard to apply, I saw an article in the local paper about another volunteer … came in, asked about volunteering and haven’t looked back.
For those who are consideration volunteering, my advice to you would be DO IT NOW, you won’t regret it!