This is what the expression ‘testing yourself’ means.
It offers the opportunity to experience a new city and experience cultures and testing your skills and all projects contribute to the achievement of a sustainable development goal.
In London, the organizations are easily found online and become references for our people on the move.
Volunteering is a great way to gain local experience while serving the community. Volunteering is especially popular among Londoners, who see it as a life and professional experience as well.
Indeed, in the English-speaking world, some companies have a policy of hiring those who have had at least one volunteer experience.
Many places also offer training and skills that are useful for other types of work. However, there's no guarantee that it will quickly become a paid job.
This is my experience:
Gian: “One day I returned home with dusty hands and sore knees from bending over books and shelves, arranging, rearranging, and making everything more accessible and more appealing to the children: these were my first mornings volunteering in my neighbourhood school library.
I first received an email from the local school asking for volunteers to help in the library, since the librarian had retired.
I didn't think twice and I responded immediately, saying I'd like to and that I was available.
They accepted my application, along with those of four other local library members.
Being able to volunteer here in England is an experience that helps tremendously in the integration process, as it allows you to improve your English, meet new people, and enhance your experience.
They didn't require any special days or specific skills as they just needed to organize that chaos and that incredible number of books so much that the more time one has, the better, and everyone is welcome.
The library was in the new wing of the school, just after the reception area, a sort of open space leading to the classrooms, where the last shelves need to be filled with books still in their boxes and all the other books sorted by category need to be rearranged.
I jokingly said I had found my true calling there while tidying up, cataloging, and holding so many books in my hands and I had realized it had a relaxing effect on me, almost more so than my beloved gym practice.
But that's not all since I have that overwhelming joy that comes over me when I'm in an environment full of books.
I'm almost stunned by the relaxed atmosphere and I don't hear the teachers shouting nor the loud children who come to the library on their own.
The kids seemed quite independent and free to move around in this school environment.
Some parents started volunteering as well applying as teaching assistants.
Then there were those volunteers who helped the children with reading once or twice a week, those who organized events, those who helped with multiplication tables, or during special lessons such as cooking or art.
In short, parental involvement is normal in English schools, and it is normal to volunteer at your child’s school.
I enjoy doing it even if I don’t have kids; it gives me satisfaction and makes me feel part of the community, a very important aspect for a peaceful expatriation experience and also for my role as a community member of my neighbourhood.
Being so actively immersed in school life allows me to better understand the English school system, to see firsthand how English people work with children, and to understand the main differences from the Italian school system I was used to attend.
Volunteering in an English school allows you to feel an active part of the school, you feel that your contribution matters and that the school is grateful to have you there.
I have many friends volunteering alongside and others who volunteer in other places, including the prison.
I highly recommend volunteering to any working adult in England.
