Kimberley has been volunteering as a tutor with Weave for almost one year, and in that time she’s worked with three students.
Read her short reflection on volunteering with Weave.
I first joined Weave as a volunteer tutor as I was eager to be involved with an organisation that had a solid presence; an organisation with a legacy and the opportunity for me to be part of the community long term.
That’s why Weave was interesting to me, because it’s been around for so long and has done so much with and for the local community.
I love being present and able to give my undivided attention to the kids. It’s been such a joy getting to know them, how they think and like to learn, and how I can be of most help for them.
I hope that in some small way I can help them not just with their learning needs, but also as young people navigating their way in the world.
The first 10-year-old boy I worked with on his English reading and writing was very stressed about the learning process — he would grip his pen and kind of shake trying to figure out the words. So I said, “Just have a go. It’s ok to make mistakes; we’re both learning.” It made such a difference in the way he approached our work together, and we had a lot of fun reading and writing for each other after that.
I also really love encouraging the kids to share their opinions. To think about something and discuss it together.
I feel it’s important to encourage them to have a voice, and just because they’re young it doesn’t mean that their voice doesn’t matter.
Volunteering with Weave has been a smooth process — the program is organised, very professional, super friendly and easy going at the same time. I’ve loved getting to know the program coordinator, Denise, each week too — she makes the whole experience wonderful!
It has been an enriching and humbling experience to get to know the people at Weave. There’s are a real heart and soul there, and it confirmed that I do want to shift my career focus from communications to healthcare as a way of being more involved in the community.
I used to have grand plans of wanting to change the world. But now I feel if I can change one person’s world in some small way then that’s what I want to do, just like I feel the incredible people here at Weave have changed my world and how I want to be in it. I’m so grateful for that.
– Kimberley with one of her students.