This week we are giving recognition to all the amazing people who are selflessly volunteering to help and support people in their communities by sharing the great work of just some of the amazing volunteers we have at PJA.
In our penultimate article of the week, Darja Orlovska, an engineer in our Birmingham office talks about her volunteering experience with the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Awards:
“I’ve been lucky to be exposed to various volunteering opportunities from a young age. Volunteering in a charity shop, with adults with learning difficulties, at care homes, at park clean ups, litter picking and many more. As a teen I’ve volunteered out of necessity rather than choice, because it was part of an exciting programme, because I could get work experience and put it on my CV. Little did I know I would get much more than just work experience. Those opportunities taught me very early on that the most valued donation you can make to a charity is your time! Sure charities need funds to run, but they wouldn’t exist without their volunteers.
I’ve completed the DofE Award myself and reflecting back on my journey I could see the positive impact it left on me. So when I had some spare time again and wanted to volunteer, choosing a DofE group was a no brainer. I started volunteering for my local DofE group to help the participants with preparation for their expedition part of the award and eventually went on to help with running the expeditions too. Showing teenagers how to put up tents, read maps and cook pasta on the camping stove – it’s all great fun, especially if they’ve never done it before. I’m passionate about outdoors and it is amazing to be able to pass on the practical knowledge and good practices to young people who are in most cases are just getting their first taste of the world that is out there.
Volunteering with young people isn’t without challenges – as I did once, some, if not most of the participants, see the DofE Award as something they need on their CV or university application. So there are times when participants are low on motivation, don’t see much point in it and would rather be at home watching TV (tends to happen fairly frequently on a second rainy day of a walking expedition). However, those are the times you bond most with the young people and if you are successful at bringing their mood up a little and encouraging them to carry on, they are very grateful at the end for you just being there for them. And you come out with your negotiation skills upgraded to a new level!
Being a female DofE group volunteer, people assume I’m a teacher, but once they find out I’m a civil engineer it is a great conversation starter with participants and staff alike. Young people are excited to get a perspective of a working professional, as some are considering studying civil engineering at university but have little idea about what their job would actually entail, and others had no idea what to do with their chosen A levels and now they have a choice they are considering. Whereas being able to chat to staff, who most often are teachers, is a good opportunity to discuss ideas for STEM events and teachers are keen to draw on your industry experience which they can incorporate into their lessons too.”
Find out more about the DofE Award and volunteering opportunities here
For more information on this, or our engineering services, please contact: [email protected]
Darja Orlovska
Darja is a civil engineer with experience in both private and public sectors. Her focus is predominantly in highway design from feasibility and concept studies through to detailed design.
Read our other Volunteer Recognition Day articles here
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