London Blog

Over the next three months Street League are lucky enough to have 2 Global Exchange volunteers with us. Global Exchange is a partnership between British Council and Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO). Please may I introduce Pauline and Ben. They will be updating everyone each fortnight with the goings on and meanderings of a Street League volunteer. Pauline and Ben will be attending many of our training sessions, and so I am sure you will all make them feel very welcome!

Here are the first of their blogs...

Pauline:

Hi, I’m a new volunteer at Street League where I’ll be staying for the next 3 months. I am on a 6 month volunteer programme called Global Xchange run by British Council and VSO. The exchange is between the UK and various countries in Africa and Asia. My exchange is between Nigeria and the UK. GX is for young people between 18-25 years to be active in the community. There are 18 youths in each exchange, 9 from each country and we are placed in host homes and volunteer placements in each community. In addition, each exchange has a theme, ours is climate change and access to education. The first phase of my programme was in Nigeria where I was placed in an education foundation which is about giving skills to and empowering those with physical difficulties. I was also part of the team which organised a seminar on climate change aimed at local secondary schools and NGO’s. Aside from the work aspect, living in Nigeria was a very different experience to the UK. From having to put on factor 50 each day, bartering prices with taxi drivers and trying all the local food from intestines (not nice) to pounded yam (nice). In our free time the team hung out together, went on trips and climbed waterfalls! Now, I am in the second phase of my programme which is in Newham, London. I have been given a new work placement in Street League where I’ve been for 2 weeks now. From the first day here, I knew I would enjoy this placement. Within a few minutes of entering the office and meeting Sophie Hope, the volunteer co-ordinator I was offered tea and crumpets and made to feel at home. I started to get to meet everyone in the office, who were all very welcoming. Riz, one of the coaches gave Ben (my work counterpart) and I tickets to go and see Charlton v Coventry. So, that night I went to see my first ever football match! In the past two weeks through meeting various members of the Street League staff I’ve been discovering what Street League does and how it functions. It’s a really interesting scheme and seems to be working well. My work counterpart and I have been asked to carry out the annual player’s survey so we will be able to attend training sessions around London and meet the players. This Monday saw us taking part in one of the football sessions coached by Aderito. I wasn’t the best player on the pitch but it was still great fun playing 5-a-side and the players were very accepting of us joining in. From January onwards I’ll be out and about carrying out the survey for Street League (and maybe joining in the odd football session)!