Posted by Jackie on 15th Jan

Volunteering for ActionAid in summer 2008 was a fantastic experience. 

I first heard about the opportunity through my university, and as I’m studying events management, volunteering with ActionAid really helped to put my studies into action.

ActionAid made me realise that we do all have a voice to help make a difference to those people who really need it and we don’t need money to express it. 

I loved going to the festivals and my festival tally really built up through the summer as we took ‘Bollocks to Poverty’ to Wireless, Underage, Field Day and Reading, before going to these I hadn’t really done much volunteering before. 

At first I was a bit worried about approaching people but after a couple of practices with the other volunteers I got a proper grasp and the issues we were spreading the word about and I couldn’t wait to get started. 

I met some great people through ActionAid who I’ll defiantly keep in touch with, and they all have so much energy and enthusiasm for ActionAid- it’s contagious!

Going to the festivals was great and so much fun and we could really reach so many young people who all wanted to get tattooed (fake of course!) and find out about ActionAid, and even when the great British summer really showed itself by raining all day at Field Day there was still smiles all round from the ActionAider’s and the festival goer’s.

I felt like I was making a difference and all you need to do to help is donate your time. 

And whilst raising awareness of ActionAid you might just become a World Record Breaker or catch a few bands- for me the highlight last year had to be seeing Rage against the Machine at Reading. 

And if that isn’t your cup of tea, or pint of cider, you can always have a game of jenga at the ActionAid tent.

Next up is for me and ActionAid…putting on a gig? Or maybe a sky dive? Whilst wearing my pink t-shirt of course….