Volunteering at JRS UK has been a truly insightful and rewarding experience. Despite only being here for five short weeks, I feel I have already learned so much about the asylum system both from staff and refugee friends. Looking back on before I started at JRS UK, I knew very little about the system and the experience of an asylum seeker. The media creates a ‘typical’ image of a refugee and volunteering at JRS UK allows you to see beyond the asylum status. They are people with hobbies, families, life ambitions and so much more.
I’ve had the opportunity to work across many teams at JRS UK, mainly accommodation, activities, and practical support. The JRS shop provides refugee friends with essential items such as clothes and toiletries, but it also allows them to stop and sit down for a chat and a coffee. As volunteers, it is part of our role to make everyone feel welcome and at home when they enter the shop. Many refugee friends enter the shop and are strangers to you at first but then you get the privilege of getting to know them. The other shop volunteers are extremely pleasant, and everybody works together and chips in, leaving no person to do all the work on their own.
The activities can help refugee friends keep their sense of identity. It allows them to continue with their hobbies and talents or perhaps find a new one. Over the past few weeks, I was able to attend the rehearsals for the Greek play Antigone. I thoroughly admired the commitment and hard work of the actors despite their busy lives. It was great to see refugee friends become more confident as the weeks went on and everyone got into character. The performance was a success, and it was clear that all the cast were rightfully proud of themselves, and all felt accomplished.
Volu
nteering with the accommodation team has been such an enjoyable experience. I have visited both of JRS UK’s shared houses for refugees: Emilie House and Amani House. On Tuesday evenings in Emilie House, everyone takes part in an activity together. The past few weeks we have had cultural evenings. A resident very kindly cooks a meal from their home country alongside a presentation about their country. It has been so interesting to hear about all the diverse cultures and being spoiled with all the delicious food. I deeply appreciate them taking the time to do this for everyone and feel so lucky that I get such valuable insights into many different parts of the world. The residents benefit from this evening too, as they get to know better the people they are living with , and it is a chance for them to talk and share a little bit of their home that they miss with everyone.
So far, I am learning so much volunteering at JRS UK and it has been a privilege getting to meet all the refugee friends. It has been an amazing experience so far and I am looking forward to the rest of my time here!
current volunteering opportunities
