Why did you get involved in vinspired Lake of Stars?
I’m from Zimbabwe, and I’m working with several different refugee and charitable projects in London. I liked the idea of getting involved with vLOS because my ambition is to open my own recording studio and start my own festival back in Africa, as my passion is music.
What did you do?
In the UK I: worked in the office, researched and booked my own fundraising event, including finding a venue, choosing and confirming acts to play, promoting the night and managing the budget, was involved in a lot of online promotion for the festival itself and many of the fundraising nights throughout the year, helped out at many of these events, which enabled me to travel all over the country and attended conferences and events to help to research ways in which we can expand vinspired Lake of Stars in the future.
What next?
Through volunteering with vLOS I have not only really improved my computer skills, but I have also been able to secure some work experience at a recording studio in London, which are both really fundamental for me.
Would you recommend volunteering for other young people?
Yes. I've enjoyed it because I have had the opportunity to put on my own fundraising event to raise awareness of African refugees in the UK, which I think is really important. The skills I've learnt delivering this will be really useful when I begin to think seriously about putting on events in the UK and Zimbabwe.
If you are 16-25 and would like to volunteer, find opportunities at vinspired.com
Words and photo by Brian Chizambire, vinspired volunteer
