Volunteer Spotlight: Interview with Avanthi Seneviratne
In April 2022, a company called London Stock Exchange-Sri Lanka (LSEG-Sri Lanka) reached out to Let’s Build Great Things and asked if they could send interested volunteers from their company. What a godsend!!! Since then, they have sent us a band of volunteers who have contributed to keeping classes going non stop every Sunday. Here’s a highlight of Avanthi’s experience. She has volunteered since 2022, for nearly two years!
Photos provided by Avanthi Seneviratne
October 02, 2023
Community Impact
What volunteering do you do and what was the positive impact?
I generally like to volunteer for environmental and animal welfare related causes, which is my passion. I have worked mostly with individuals who care for injured/abandoned street dogs, helping to provide a weekly meal and assist in getting them care from vets. I’ve also worked on some beach/area clean up projects over the years. Volunteering for Art Class was a new experience and new area for me as I haven’t worked with kids on a long-term basis – but it has been a very enjoyable and interesting journey. The kids also seem to enjoy being able to interact and learn new things and ways of thinking with each lesson.
Can you share a particular example or connection you made through your volunteering that can bring this impact to life?
Having gone for Art Classes as a kid myself, I realized a lot of my world view and how its shaped – to look beyond the obvious and expected – came from my time at Art Class. So, I wanted to create a similar environment that would nurture independent thinking for these kids as well. I treat every class is an opportunity to be creative and push beyond what you know and encourage the kids to do so, no matter how silly the idea may seem.
How did that experience make you feel?
Being able to share that experience with others is very rewarding and especially when you see someone do something very different with a very basic outline, I do feel proud that I was able to be a part of helping them grow.
Wellbeing
How does volunteering, whether this anecdote or more broadly, benefit your sense of wellbeing?
Volunteering for any cause gives me a sense of purpose and being able to fulfil that purpose brings me joy and satisfaction that I am where I need to be and helping where needed.
Self Development
How did it challenge and develop you?
Whether it is environment, people or animals, the world is ever changing and the approach you take needs to develop along with these changes. When working with people, language has been a challenge. Being fluent in English and Sinhala and having a class full of students who are Tamil-speaking, has been difficult, but the kids are also very supportive – they like to practice speaking English and I learn a little Tamil to help explain more complex ideas/concepts.
Was there a particular opportunity for learning a new skill or approaching something in a different way that you experienced?
In this age of Technology, the kids are much more aware of the world around them and are easily able to connect ideas/things they have never seen/experienced in real life, thanks to the internet. However, sometimes understanding how that can be adapted and applied in our local context, without just taking it as is, can be difficult for the kids to do. So, helping them connect and apply those ideas in a way that benefits them, was something I worked on and also encouraging them to think of their own solutions/applications without always relying on technology to give the answer.
