My Volunteering Experience: Effects and Feelings.

"1. By the morning brightness. 2. And the night as it settles. 3. Your Lord did not abandon you, nor is He displeased. 4. The Hereafter is better for you than the First. 5. And your Lord will give you, and you will be satisfied. 6. Did He not find you orphaned, and He sheltered you? 7. And found you wandering, and He guided you? 8. And found you in need, and He enriched you?  ~ Quran 93:1-8"

                         

        Prologue

Entering the class, as a new teacher, made me remember in the midst of my students' standing ovation how, out of my desire for every child to get educated, I used to daydream while my head is buried in a textbook: how I would, one day, promote children's education when I finish high school. It was such a sweet dream, that I feel like a perfectly appropriate mixture of dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins, are all released at once to make me the happiest person for a couple of seconds. I wanted to enjoy the look of beautiful scenes behind the now transparent papers. I wanted to daydream for as long as it can go, but then I have to forcefully stop thinking and continue reading the textbook, for it is the hard work and not the thinking that bears fruits. On October of 2015, five years ago, through email, I expressed to a philanthropist, my desire to help children. At the age of 15, I innocently wrote:

"...When I finish my studies and get my career I shall support people with knowledge" 

In another email, I said and I quote:

"I promise I shall in turn help the hopeless children with education and skills"  

To which he replied:

"...I admire your enthusiasm for helping others..."!

 

With those words, I found the spark that ignited the unknown academic potentiality in me. And from those 7 words coupled with willingness, I drew motivation that would keep me overcome big odds and unpredictable waves for the next five years until it birthed my Volunteering Experience.

  My Volunteering Experience

Volunteering is a two-way benefit for it does it not only uplifts the needy but also rewards the volunteer spiritually. The satisfaction a volunteer gains are enormous. Knowing that you made a difference in one's life boosts self-esteem and self-fulfilment, increases confidence and personal development.

Since -By the Mercy of Allah- I have been supported unconditionally; therefore, I had a burning curiosity to know what it feels to give. Do people become poor by giving? As I mentioned earlier, it was my dream and promise to Allah that when I grow up, I would do those beautiful kind acts. Perhaps all children had the same dream. Ironically, I realised, even if it is not major, just the ability to brighten a refugee student's day can bring fulfilment and hope. That I can indeed think and try to transform life, was itself a giant step for me. Ever since I was a child, I felt I have an obligation to do my part in society. After all, fearing to face challenges and suffering, is the basis of mental illness, according to major psychiatrists.

My experience of volunteering at GreenLight Secondary School was indeed emotionally and spiritually uplifting. I felt my life is organised and my teen times spent well and right, and all these I attributed to the Creator for He guided me. And therefore, when I come back from my workplace I created time to reconnect with Allah. Dedicating to learning religion every night made my volunteering experience more special and godly. During my high school, I used to read Dua after each prayer in Arabic, which translates: O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, goodly provision and acceptable deed. And so I felt my prayer was accepted! This combination of good feelings about myself and the sense of achieving success created a tranquil and serene atmosphere in the midst of refugee camp: It was a dream come true.

Teaching Chemistry, Gas Laws at Green Light. Form 3 class.

The response of the employer and the smile on his face was really so satisfying when he read a letter expressing my desire to volunteer with UN agencies. His 'God sent you' reflex response, soon after he looked my grades,  was followed by an assignment of what I should teach and the location of my workplace. This made me remember the rejection I once got when I tried to work at a library to pay my high school fees. Finally, by His grace, God helped me in a way I consider as miracle taking into account the language barrier, physical distance, strangeness of the situation and macro-political factors, to mention a few.

The first time in the class saw me trembling for I was nervous, timid and less extrovert. It was my first time to stand before a large number of students, of which some younger than and others older than me. However, with time I become more confident and I developed good public speaking skill. Since time immemorial I was fond of teachers that engage with students and now that I am a young teacher, it was a perfect time for me to practise these skills. Upholding professionalism in my volunteering job earned me the respect of the school's stakeholders. I enjoyed challenging, giving and marking assignments. On the other hand, never had I enjoyed better than seeing ambitious and hard-working students.

I have noticed that students were very grateful and co-operative. Their 'thank you' notes combined with genuine smiles raised my spirit and encouraged me to always attend classes. I was amazed by their gratitude and hard work for they would study in every place; in the classroom, houses and in the worshipping places.

They would learn in anywhere!

  Whether they sit on table chair or plastic woven mats, it would not stop them from valuing critical thinking, analysis and creativity. Their eagerness to learn, they would also request me to teach them a few hours on weekends! Most of them have a dream of gaining knowledge to solve problems in their respective home countries. I also noticed that out of respect and acknowledgement of my hard times I was no longer called Abdullahi, rather they called me as 'Mwalimu' which means 'the teacher'. 

To my surprise, it was not only students: Even neighbours and community referred to me as Mwalimu. For the first time in my life, I boldly felt I am contributing to society of such diversity. And If God takes my life, I whispered to myself, I at least have left a good legacy. I thought as I wondered if I reached self actualization level. This is whole. This is satisfaction. Wherefore, I tried to hold the moment there, but it would not stay. It tunnelled back through time and burst up into this same time field  years ago when I was expelled from the class, in front of my classmates, for not paying school fee. It was dehumanizing and excruciatingly painful, and it felt equal to severe physical injury.

In the dorm of my High School

The School's Management Board entrusted me with an expensive laboratory. This tested my responsibility and trust. Laboratory experiments made chemistry classes very interesting for the students. They would not only take a break from long theoretical classes but it also enhanced their understanding of scientific concepts. To avoid any accident arose as a result of poor handling of reagents and apparatus — which could cost lives — I would have to follow textbook instructions very carefully. In other words, this encouraged me to be responsible not only about property maintenance but lives as well.

It was during my volunteering at Greenlight High School that the list in my Gratitude Journal appeared new great men and women. One of them, Hamza, was such a humble, truthful and honest youthful man, who  dedicated all his life to serving others selflessly. Or so I thought. With his little salary, he would contribute to community projects and he was thoughtful of vulnerable students. My heart melted when I spotted Hamza raising his hand to contribute to the mosque we used to pray. Apart from being teacher, he was also community mobilizer and role model for the youth. As if he was created to serve humanity, whenever he sees children in groups playing, he would sit down to their level, and with soothing voice motivates them and encourages them to limit entertainment and plan for their future, hence earning the respect and the love of the whole community. Walking with Hamza in the narrow streets of Kakuma, I could feel him receive combination of warm greetings, smiles, handshakes, and hugs from people of all walks of life. Hamza's main drive, he told me, is seeing the success of his students, of which a number of them got scholarships in various universities. Indeed I loved every aspect of his life.  I also met Christine, a soft-hearted, always smiley lady. She came from the comfort of her home in the US just to experience refugee life. During World War II, she narrated how her parents came under the care of humanitarian agencies in Europe. Appreciating how her family life was saved, she vowed under her breath to forever stand with the refugees as thanks to God; a story that made me choke up. To sum up, through volunteering, I met many great people that could take me compile a books to document their captivating stories and how they shaped my life.

Besides, through volunteering at GreenLight Secondary School, I have received my first little income. To a principled Muslim, receiving halal income means a lot. That amount was the first I worked, and I considered it an achievement. Past my phone's message sound, which notified me that my bank account got credited, my mind travelled years back. Many a time, with Primary School certificate, I requested jobs but all were in vain. While blatant rejection was not good for me, especially considering my tender age, it motivated me to seek for quality secondary educational level, by any legal means necessary. 

During the course of teaching at GreenLight Secondary School, I have gained tremendous life experiences. I learnt how taking a small step can make a lasting change for humanity. Through UN seminars and teacher training programs, I developed soft skills such as teamwork, punctuality, problem-solving, project management, raising awareness and organisation. I would sometimes observe and reflect how students discuss and help each other, out of wonder, I would marvellously say: My Lord! Indeed kindness is extremely contagious.

In addition, it was such a pleasure to volunteer with United Nations Emergency Children's Fund(UNICEF) in distributing school bags, pens, pencils, rubbers and exercise books just to put smiles on children's face. Tears of joy would roll down the cheeks of donors and the staff as they watch the joyous celebration of the children. I could relate the happiness the children were experiencing: In reminiscence, I recalled how 7 years ago solar lamb from Windle Trust helped me and motivated me in learning Languages and Science at Fuji Refugee Primary School. 

Because God helped me, I believe I have a huge responsibility in raising children's protection and education awareness, a reason why I founded ETR. Even though I may look egotistical, my purpose of writing this article is, nonetheless, to promote education in changing social stratum for wider and equal community development. It goes without saying, teaching hundreds of students emphasises the popular belief that educating one is educating a nation. In a nutshell, it is not a secret that educated, well raised-children make the world peaceful and prosperous. 

"9.Therefore, do not mistreat the orphan, 10. Nor snub the seeker! 11.But proclaim the blessings of your Lord". Quran 93:9-11.