Jasmine

Name	Volunteer Year	Placement	Country
Jasmine	2014	Malololelei	Samoa

Describe the work you did during your placement:

I was involved in teaching reading lessons to children at a remote Salesian primary school in Samoa. This was my main role in the school, however as I was living with a Salesian sister community, I was involved with assisting them with Salesian events and overall school organisation. As the school was very new, there was a lot of work to be done and the work I did varied considerably!

Describe some of the best and most challenging aspects of your placement:

Forming amazing relationships with people from the Malololelei community was one of the great highlights from my placement. I will never forget the children at the school who consistently made me grateful to be a part of their lives. Also experiencing the raw aspects of a culture and being totally immersed in it was unforgettable and unique. Some challenges I experienced involved having to live life in a very self-less way, like the sister's do. However this challenge was overcome by the joy the children brought to my life there.

Explain how your volunteer experience impacts your life today:

My volunteer experience has changed my outlook on life today. I have more gratitude and I'm open to new opportunities to help the disadvantaged. I am now studying primary teaching, in which teaching in Samoa has inspired me to do. Overall, I feel much more resilient and confident as a person from my volunteer experience in Samoa.