I’ve volunteered with the SAFE Team for over a year now. My time here has helped me develop a structure and routine in my life, and it’s given me the space to develop myself and my skills—as well as help me build on my mental stamina—so I can get closer to my goal of reintegrating back into society. At first, I started off helping with general admin work, but now I also undertake various visual projects (making use of my creative skillset and visual thinking), and even coordinate with one of our partner organisations to help deliver a collaborative project to our beneficiaries.
It’s a nice feeling having projects that I’m responsible for and trusted to carry out, and I’m given a great amount of flexibility in the way I work. Having that agency to choose how I tackle projects makes me feel valued, not only that the work I’m doing is beneficial but also that the way I work, how I solve problems, and the quality of my work is appreciated by others.
I’ve often thought of the projects I do for the SAFE Team as being supplementary, but I recognise that—although not critical to the SAFE Team’s daily operation—my projects ease the daily workload of various team members and streamline processes. If I weren’t doing these projects, these tasks would still need to be done (by advisors who’re already at working capacity) or wouldn’t be carried out at all, either way resulting in an increased and unsupported workload for the whole team; this applies to any volunteers and the work they do, not just myself. Thinking about it that way gives me a great deal of satisfaction, even on days where I end the day with no completed outcomes.
“What’s been the SAFE Team experience?” Pleasant, so far—knock on wood. The team dynamic is relaxed. Everyone meshes well together (at least I think we do!) and we have our moments of casual banter and humour; I find it’s a healthy way for us to vent the heavy subject matter that we’re often exposed to. Everyone’s encouraged to reach out and ask for help or support when they need it, which has helped me develop my own skills in doing so. It’s a positive environment for personal growth, and I’ve found I’ve gotten better at communicating with others in various aspects.
I’ve gotten better at asserting my professional boundaries and not taking work home with me, whilst also pacing my workload throughout the week and maintaining productivity. Rest is important, and that mentality is healthily emphasised throughout the whole team; we’re encouraged to take steps to ensure our own mental health and wellbeing, especially to avoid burnout. I enjoy coming home having contributed and feel accomplished—it's my time to do whatever I want, and I’ve earned it.
