The support I receive from Diversitat and the friendships I have formed with Fellow volunteers are part of all that makes my volunteering an ongoing pleasure. Developing new skills, meeting people from a wide variety of backgrounds and learning about other languages and cultures benefits me in all areas of my personal and professional life. Should you be considering volunteering in a similar role, I highly encourage you to give it a go!
Tutoring has allowed me to expand my horizons and skills, all while being able to assist some wonderful people. I’m able to interact with and learn about some amazing people and their beautiful cultures. It’s truly been an eye opening experience and I’m grateful to Diversitat for providing this opportunity for me and for many others.
For the past four years I have enjoyed the most fulfilling, satisfying time in my life during which time I have been actively involved in volunteering with Diversitat. One of the many services Diversitat offers to the refugee community is that of the homework club. This service provides tutoring to the children of refugee background assisting them with their assigned homework.I have been impressed with the high level of the work ethic and dedication displayed by the students who worked so hard to perform well with their schooling and to take advantage of the opportunity their family has been offered in Australia. This application and commitment to be successful in their new home was a revelation to me as it was contrary to media reports about refugees. The students were polite and courteous, which reflects their positive parental upbringing. Volunteering doesn’t cost you anything but the emotional returns are repaid many times over. I urge all who can, to volunteer their time to one of Diversitat’s wonderful volunteer programs.
I’ve been volunteering with the Diversitat driver mentor program for over a year now. I help people practice their driving skills before they go on to pass their licence test and get their P plates. I really enjoy the challenge of taking someone who may have never driven before and seeing them progress to a level where they can get their licence and drive on their own. It’s so important for someone to be able to drive so that they can become a part of the community around them, get to work, go to the shops, all of the things that we tend to take for granted. What I really enjoy though, is meeting new people from vastly different backgrounds to my own and hearing their stories. I sometimes get to meet their families and even get to sample some great food.
To me homework club is a way to connect with a community I wouldn’t normally be a part of. I love that I am able to help improve the lives of the children I work with and to inspire them to achieve their goals. I would recommend volunteering to others because the children are always so engaging and grateful for our time, and the friendships I have built with them keeps me wanting to come back week after week.
Attending homework club is always a pleasure. Seeing the students work so hard to expand their opportunities and better themselves and their families makes me so happy and gives me great optimism for the future of Geelong. It is a fantastic service offered and coordinated by Diversitat, and I’m happy and proud to play a small part in an important program.
I love coming to the Stitch program. I have made new friends and have enjoyed watching other women develop new friendships too. It is wonderful to see sewing skills grow and to see the women begin to speak English more confidently
