The Future Dreams Project is a non-profit organisation that hosts events and activities in the pursuit of developing the education of refugee and asylum seeker children. I was personally involved in the Reading and Art Workshops project that were held in partnership with Slough Refugee Support. The focus was on literacy, socialisation and creativity. It prioritised developing an emotionally-positive atmosphere, building an environment focused on the children – a truly compassionate approach.
Due to my interest in finance, one of the core attributes I aspire to embody in all aspects of my life is integrity. Integrity is the foundation of trust in all relationships, including business ones, and I wanted to involve myself in a role that would allow me to develop my own. It is through this pursuit that I gained an interest in contributing within my community, encouraging me to volunteer locally. It has been an invaluable and irreplaceable experience in every aspect. Enhancing my skills, providing mentorship to others and connecting with amazing people has taught me so much.
My role as a reading mentor allowed me to directly build relationships and interact with people from a diverse range of backgrounds, providing insight into varying perspectives. Tibyan, who I met through the workshops, volunteered as a Reading Mentor and offered face painting for the children, always carrying an enthusiastic demeanour. My fellow volunteers’ eagerness and desire to build a compassionate and warm environment was especially inspiring to me as it created a comfortable space, focused on building up the children’s literacy, and improved their communication and confidence socially.
Within my role, I guided children through books appropriate to their reading level, monitoring their strengths and weaknesses as they developed their skills. It was truly fulfilling to see the fruits of their effort and dedication, as they progressed. I enjoyed writing their reports, recording a child now being able to read for longer stretches, or keeping a steadier pace. Even subtle improvements are reminders of our shared commitment, something I encouraged the children to take pride in. This was made especially clear by their excitement to discuss books as we read them. It showed that reading was a hobby rather than a chore for them. A six-year-old I mentored, in particular, became notably enthusiastic on our library visit, picking out all kinds of books to read and then borrowing them to continue at home. This was particularly rewarding to see as it directly showed her desire to continue on, even after the workshops.
Taking breaks when needed helped to support the kids’ consistent enjoyment of the sessions, which is why, in addition to my mentoring role, I also contributed to the arts aspect of the workshops. I ran origami workshops and guided the children in their creative endeavours, showing them how to create paper versions of their favourite flowers and animals.
Providing a safe space where the children could learn to express themselves artistically was rewarding. Origami teaches many skills: patience, coordination, and spatial awareness. Yet, beyond that, it provides an outlet for emotions, something that many children can struggle with after going through upheaval. Giving them this chance to both improve their soft skills and ease their minds was one of the most enjoyable aspects of my role.
Overall, volunteering in the Reading and Arts Workshops was a wonderful opportunities. I was able to teach and mentor children in their literacy, which would only serve to benefit them in their education, and I also developed my own communication style and identity through a charitable pursuit. From the very first workshop, to our last, it always felt like everybody was on the same page, working together: the kids, the parents and the volunteers.
