| Name | Age |
Project |
|---|---|---|
 Neelam Baksh |
45 |
Women In Governance project (WING) |
How did you get into Volunteering?
I desperately wanted a job but couldn’t get one because I had no official qualifications. So I started helping out at the local school. Because I speak 4 languages and want to be involved, I soon found many new friends who I could help, especially amongst the parents. One day, somebody told me about the WING project that helps women from socially deprived backgrounds to train for decision making roles in the local community. I went along but wasn’t confident about the training. However, with their support and belief in me, I signed up and successfully completed the course.
What do you do?
 |
 |
Apart from being a housewife and mother of three, I have three voluntary jobs. I started the Womens’ Friendship Group at the local school. – mainly to help the ethnic mothers to improve their language skills and integrate into the community. I also help children at the school with their literacy. Thanks to my training with WING, I’ve just become a school governor. So now I can actively influence important decisions that affect the people I help.
Why do you do it?
I started life in a privileged family. Since then, I have experienced war, attempted murder, threats, financial hardship and depression. I was forced to finish my education at fifteen with no qualifications. I have also uprooted my family twice and fought hard to resettle them. Because I got no education, I want to educate people. Because I know what it feels like to be excluded, I don’t want it to happen to others. And because life is precious, I believe that nothing should stop you doing want you want to do. Which in my case, is helping people who need help.
How has the project helped you?
The people at WING made me believe in myself. They helped me to put forward my views and ideas with confidence and see things from different perspectives. They gave me the tools to be able to make decisions on behalf of others. They also taught me basic skills that I’d never had the chance to learn – like working a PC, surfing the net and creating professional documents. Through them., I’ve met people who have inspired me and encouraged me to value my own opinion. Not bad for a person with no qualifications who was suffering from depression not long ago!
What do you get out of volunteering?
It gives me great satisfaction to know that someone else is happier thanks to my involvement. It’s in my nature to reach out and make contact with other people. If you can do something for others, it makes your life feel worthwhile. It’s my way of proving that even if you have no qualifications and problems of your own, you can still make a difference and achieve something – given the right opportunity.
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