Volunteer Interview – Jade
March 10, 2015Ever wondered what it’s like to volunteer with African Revival? Wonder no more! Over the next few weeks, we’re going to bring you interviews with our current volunteers, both in the UK and overseas, so you can find out exactly what our volunteers get up to and why their contribution to our work is so important.
Today,
we’re talking to Jade Beakhouse – our Fundraising & Communications Volunteer based in our Gulu, Uganda office. Jade grew up in Africa, where she quickly developed a passion for international development – particularly gender issues. She recently completed a Master’s Degree in Humanitarian Studies at LSTM, during which time she conducted her dissertation research in Chad
How long have you been volunteering with African Revival?
I have been volunteering with AR in Gulu, Uganda for just over one month; I will be here until August 2015.
Have you ever volunteered before?
I have volunteered a fair bit in the past in Thailand, Mexico and Chad, as well as within the UK for several charitable organizations.
What made you get involved with African Revival originally?
I had just graduated from my Master’s in Humanitarian Studies, and was keen to pursue a career in International Development – which is a very competitive sector. When I saw a volunteering opportunity arise with AR in Uganda, it seemed like a great – and exciting – way to gain more experience within an international NGO whose key vision mirrored my own interests.
What kind of activities have you been involved in at AR?
At the moment, several new projects have just launched in Uganda, and so I have been spending a great deal of time visiting projects and attending community meetings. During these visits, I take photographs, collect data and conduct interviews so I can write up news reports and profiles of AR’s activities; this ensures that the UK fundraising team can give supporters regular updates on AR’s projects.
When I am in the office, I am often scouring local newspapers and websites for Ugandan-based calls for proposals, and looking out for good education stories and relevant research papers which can be used by the fundraising and comms team.
What’s the best thing about working with AR?
The first thing which struck me about AR is how lovely and kind everyone is, and so it is a very supportive environment to work in.
With my role, I feel very fortunate that I am able to spend lots of time in the field, and can experience first-hand how AR’s projects are benefitting children and communities. It is always so exciting to meet our partners and hear people’s stories!
What’s the most challenging thing about working with AR?
I haven’t come across any significant challenges (yet!), but at times, the internet connection in Gulu can be quite poor and so small tasks, like sending an e-mail, can take a long time which can really slow down my productivity!
If you’d like to apply to volunteer with us, check out Volunteers page to see our current vacancies.
