During Connect and Reflect Week, we encourage you to look into volunteering for a chance to be rewarded as part of our Denis Law RGUplus Award. Hear from RGU student Kitty about why she started volunteering and all the amazing opportunities she has taken at and beyond RGU.
How I started my volunteering journey
From a young age, I got stuck in with volunteering. One of my first volunteering experiences was with the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA). I was OBSSESSED with horses and my dad found a local organisation that allowed me to continue my love for horses but at the same time involving myself with the most amazing community.
I helped support riders with disabilities, care/exercise the horses weekly and during the summer holidays with the pony camps. While I took on this opportunity as a result of my passion for horses, it soon started to feed my idea to see what I could to do make a broader difference.
Spending time with the animals and riders, helping them to experience the joy and empowerment of horseback riding, was incredibly rewarding.
My volunteering experience at RGU
My journey within volunteering continued during my time at RGU, where I am currently studying Events Management. During my time here, I’ve had incredible opportunities to volunteer through their Industry Experience Portfolio modules which encouraged me to cover +100 hours of voluntary and industry focused experiences.
Whilst being able to take on these amazing opportunities, I worked behind the scenes at many events which taught me a great deal about teamwork, problem-solving, and the importance of attention to detail in delivering exceptional experiences. I was also involved in organising smaller events, such as the T.H.E Conference and The Revival Room which were organised by myself and my course mates.
One of my other volunteering experiences was at a TEDx event in Aberdeen where I helped with the post-organisation, stage management, and guest coordination. The excitement of working with speakers and attendees from diverse backgrounds, coupled with the challenge of organizing such a significant event, was both exhilarating and educational. It reinforced my passion for events management and deepened my commitment to volunteering in ways that aid in making a real impact once I graduate.
Taking volunteering beyond the classroom
As I am coming towards the end of my studies, I’ve had a strong desire to continue my volunteering efforts and aim my future work towards making a change. So, when I returned from studying in Salzburg, Austria, I knew I wasn’t done.
In February, I signed up with Play Action International (PAI) as a solo traveller to join a group of volunteers in Kenya and honestly? it was the best decision! Based in Kisumu, Ong’adi Primary School, our project was to build a playground for the kids and the community to use as a safe and inclusive hub. It was a huge success!
Not only did we complete 1 playground, but we were also able to give a previous project of PAI’s a re-vamp and provide the nursery children of Obwolo with play equipment too. The literal blood, sweat and tears during these four weeks have pulled out a person within me I wasn’t aware was there… Whether it was digging, cementing, painting or teaching the kids new ways of play and in return learning just as much from them, I loved every minute of it. The incredible trips we were lucky to take on our weekends off were definitely deserved!
Through my various experiences, I have learned that volunteering is not always about seeing an immediate impact but in fact creating long-lasting relationships and meaningful change.
Kitty Begg
Related blogs
Volunteering at RGU – From “just helping a friend” to making a difference
Student Volunteering Week: My experience with Denis Law Legacy Trust
The benefits of volunteering at RGU from a student’s experience
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