Volunteer Spotlight: Interview with Tharshika Sivagnanasunderam
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 since April. Here’s a highlight of Tharshika’s experience. She has volunteered since April 2022, for over a year now.
Tharshika Sivagnanasunderam
June 04, 2023
Community Impact
What volunteering do you do and what was the positive impact?
I started volunteering for Arts and Crafts in April 2022 and have been loving it ever since. The kids are welcoming and eager to showcase their talents and creativity. Each week, the coordinator selects a topic and shares the lesson plan with us volunteers. The teaching style is unique and creative, allowing the kids to make their own choices and exhibit their work using their imagination. I particularly enjoyed these classes.
Can you share a particular example or connection you made through your volunteering that can bring this impact to life?
Every time I visit, the kids remember me and eagerly anticipate my arrival. It feels as though I have become a part of their family. Initially shy, they have now become talkative, asking questions, and always eager to think outside the box and try something new.
How did that experience make you feel?
I felt welcome and a sense of belonging, as if I were part of their family. It brought me immense happiness and gratitude to contribute something meaningful to the community, and I take pride in witnessing their growth throughout the year.
Wellbeing
How does volunteering, whether this anecdote or more broadly, benefit your sense of wellbeing?
I felt a calm and eager anticipation every time I saw the kids on my volunteering day. It wasn't just a craft class; some sessions focused on raising awareness about the planet and motivating them to take action to protect it. One particular project involved creating a greenhouse using plastic bottles and teaching the students about recycling materials and the concept of a greenhouse.
Realizing that our efforts went beyond arts and crafts, and that we were instilling social responsibility and environmental friendliness in the kids, brought me a deep sense of satisfaction.
Self Development
How did it challenge and develop you?
My greatest challenge was the language barrier as I struggled with speaking Sinhalese. This made it tough to communicate with the kids who only knew Sinhala initially. However, those of them who knew English always stepped in and explained things to their peers, allowing me to learn new words in the process. As the year went on, I not only learnt new skills and knowledge along with the children but also improved my Sinhala verbal skills.
Was there a particular opportunity for learning a new skill or approaching something in a different way that you experienced?
Since the children in the class are from different age groups, I researched effective instruction methods and approaches for teaching a group of 20-25 kids simultaneously.
One approach I adopted was encouraging them to think and express themselves in English. They felt comfortable trying to speak English as they saw me as a friendly person and were not afraid. Many of the children were familiar with Tamil and Sinhala languages, so this platform provided an opportunity for them to improve their English skills while enjoying themselves.
Additionally, I used appropriate videos and pictures to make the learning experience more memorable and enjoyable for them.
