Meet a volunteer: ­Ali from Digital

Where do you volunteer?

"I am active in student politics at KEA as a Class Representative (SMR) for my
team, and I also sit as a representative in
the Local Council at Digital." 

How did you get involved with volunteering at KEA? 

"Basically because I think students have horrible conditions, when you think about the prosperity and the rich society we live in. The conditions are getting worse and the pressure is increasing and now the government also wants to cut the SU for the 6th year of study. Although my voluntary work at KEA has a local focus, it can spread. The wave is created from below, not from above."

Three reasons to volunteer

1) Making a difference - "You are often not alone with your criticisms, and therefore it is not constructive to sit with them alone. Let's come together and improve our common conditions as a group.”

2) Engagement - “It's generally great to get involved, especially when you do it with others who are also passionate about it. You become wiser and get inspiration from others when you work for a common cause.”

3) Social life - “You get the opportunity to meet other students from other programs and years. It is great to be part of the community and participate in the events that are for the volunteers.”

How much time do you spend, in average, on volunteering a week? 

"2-3 hours on average, depending on meetings."

Have you gained new skills through your volunteer work?

"Even though I have only been volunteering for 2 months, I have already become better at communicating. You have to stand up and argue your case. It may  that you have different views on things. Then you get to really practice your communicative skills. That's why I'm also getting better at negotiating. Much of the voluntary work takes place in collaboration with and/or through negotiation with others, e.g. education managers and teachers. These are skills that can benefit you in many ways and throughout all your life."

Do you have a funny or special anecdote you want to share?

"Yes, and it is actually about communication and negotiation. When I started volunteering in student politics, I was sure that it would be a hard, militant fight to get something through. Because of all the crises that exist in society. It turned out that the opposite was the case. For the first Local Council meeting at Digital, we had prepared some proposals, and the heads of education were enormously enthusiastic about the initiatives. Your commitment and your ideas are greeted with open arms. As long as you convey it constructively, it does not have to be a battle. You shouldn't be intimidated by it at all. But of course it still requires you to have a certain drive."

Here is why you should volunteer according to Ali!

"You have the opportunity to make a difference for you and your fellow students, and I think that is a cause worth spending your time on. Don't we all want better conditions as students?"