Becoming a global citizen
Chiamaka Umeasiegbu from Nigeria, took part in the Global Xchange (GX) programme in Calabar, Nigeria and Edinburgh, UK. She shares her experience of being a volunteer and how this enabled her to develop skills to create positive change in her immediate community.
Why did I get involved?
I got involved primarily because I wanted to do something different. I had spent a very fulfilling year teaching English as a second language at a secondary school in northern Nigeria for most of 2005 as part of the National Youth Service Corps. However, I felt that I could have spent more time volunteering in a hands-on manner within a host community.
Volunteer placements in Calabar and Edinburgh
During the first three months of the exchange in Calabar, I was placed in a faith based organisation called the Justice Development and Peace Commission. This placement gave me the opportunity to witness community development first hand. I acquired varied skills ranging from community mapping to taking a baseline survey of small communities who needed portable drinking water, access roads and schools for children. The experience has helped me tremendously as I have gone on to work on various community based programs. These include the United Nations Development Program's Local Development Project to alleviate poverty and provide basic infrastructure in the troubled Niger delta region of Nigeria.
In the last three months of the exchange in Edinburgh, Scotland, I volunteered at Shakti Women's Aid. Shakti is an organisation providing refuge, counselling, free legal representation and general welfare to black minority ethnic women affected by domestic violence and abuse. I gained insight into the management of social and violent domestic situations. Currently I work as a programme officer on a project offering palliative care and counselling to people living with HIV/AIDS. It also provides income generating activities to the affected families.
If I had to change my life, Global Xchange would remain exactly where and when it happened. It has expanded my horizon and given me the itch to achieve greater things.
Developing my skills
As an individual I learnt to work on my own initiative as well as part of a large and diverse team. I understood and appreciated the different cultures and perspectives of the other volunteers and the host communities. During those six months I learnt so much more than I would have if I had spent that time in a formal classroom. I discovered my skills bringing my skills to the fore and appreciated other people’s skills. The activities on the GX programme exposed me to global issues and offered me a platform for positive learning and change, challenging my attitudes and assumptions.
Celebrating my community
This experience has made me even more appreciative of the foundation and cultural richness of my country and I have been inspired to celebrate that. But it has also made me aware of the failings and weaknesses of where I am from and I would like to help to make changes. GX inspired me to achieve something small every day and to make use of my networks, skills, learning and experiences I acquired to create positive change in my immediate community.
A life changing experience
When I was selected to be a part of Global Xchange I didn’t quite know what to expect. The stories of some returned volunteers, and the introductory training courses, gave me an idea that it would be demanding yet fun but it didn’t quite prepare me for such a life changing experience.
During those six months, no day was exactly the same. There was always something different to see, to explore, to share and to learn. If I had to change my life, GX would remain exactly where and when it happened. It has expanded my horizon and given me the itch to achieve greater things. As we returned volunteers say: ‘It has made a global citizen of me.’
