We met with Camille Py to chat about her experience as a Kitchen Volunteer with Women@TheWell.
Would you be able to start by introducing yourself?
My name is Camille. I am in my 3rd year of a dual degree between UCL and Sciences Po in European Social and Political Sciences. Technically it’s my 3rd year, but I spent 2 years in France and have only just arrived in the UK this year. I’m really interested in women’s rights, diplomacy, and multiculturalism, which is one of the reasons that I decided to start volunteering.
What type of volunteering have you been doing?
I’m working with Women@TheWell. It is a charity that provides women experiencing hardship with meals and social assistance. For example, they can help make a doctor’s appointment, look at bills, call officials, or look for housing.
Personally, I help in the kitchen. I’m usually there once a week for a shift for a few hours. I help make sandwiches for the women who drop in at the lunch hours. I started in mid-November 2023, and have been doing it every week since.
Have you found it manageable alongside university?
Yes, I think so. Because it’s a weekly commitment, I was able to integrate it easily into my schedule. So for me, it’s just like having another class each week. Also, it is very different from studying and academic work, so I think it really helps me take a nice break. It is nice to see people other than students all day every day. I think it’s really important to have those times where you don’t have to think about university.
Has there been a particular highlight of your volunteering?
I wouldn’t say there is one particular moment, but what I really like the most about it is the routine. You get to see the same colleagues and service users regularly, and it’s just nice to have some familiar faces. It is nice to ask they how they’re doing and have a little chat!
Have there been any challenges throughout your volunteering experience?
Sometimes some of the service users can be a bit complicated, especially if they want something specific. But I usually work with another volunteer in the kitchen, and because they are older and have been doing it for more time, they know all of the service users well and are able to support me. So I think that’s also something that’s really important and it makes it much easier, so that is really nice!
Would you recommend volunteering to others?
Yes, absolutely. Personally, I decided to volunteer because I feel like there isn’t that many hours of classes when you are a humanities student in the UK, and in a few years I am going to work full-time so I don’t think I will have as much time to commit to something like this. I feel like university is a moment in your life where you should take the opportunity to do something like this if you can.
I think it also helps you keep connected with the rest of the world in a way. Especially in social and political science, we talk a lot about the theory but it’s not always grounded in the real world. It’s nice to have the opportunity to meet people and learn more about other people’s experiences.
Thank you very much to Camille for sharing her experience. If you are interested in getting involved with Women@TheWell's mission, you can check out their current available volunteering opportunities here!