Why did you get involved in vinspired Lake of Stars?
I had heard about vinspired Lake of Stars from some friends and work colleagues and wanted to get involved, so I pestered the guys in the office until they let me work for them!
What did you do?
In Malawi: I managed the Beach Bar Stage, from the build before the festival all the way through to the get-out when it was over. Not only was I responsible for ensuring the schedule ran smoothly and everyone was in the right place at the right time, but also mentoring Stanley, an amazing guy from Malawi who managed the same stage during the daytime when it featured a fantastic array of Malawian acts, from acoustic sets to acrobatics. It was hard work with lots of late nights but the experience was definitely worth it.
What next?
I have gone back to work in events, but I would definitely like to stay involved with vinspired Lake of Stars, and would love for them to have me back next year.
Would you recommend volunteering for other young people?
Totally. It's not often anyone would willingly spend their holiday working, but vinspired Lake of Stars taught me that volunteering your time and doing something you enjoy can be so much more worthwhile than just lying on the beach. I found the skill-share aspect of my role particularly rewarding - it was so nice to be able to pass on some of my knowledge to Stanley and really see him getting something out of it which he can use in the future. Find something you like doing, and then find a way that you can make that help someone else - there's something out there for everyone!
If you're 16-25 and would like to volunteer, find opportunities at vinspired.com
Words and photo by Jess Leyton, vinspired volunteer
