We sat down to chat with Rebecca Provenziani about her experience volunteering as a Pottery Teacher at Holborn Community Association.
Would you be able to introduce yourself and the volunteering that you have been doing?
My name is Rebecca Provenziani. I am an Experimental Pharmacology and Therapeutics MSc student over at the School of Pharmacy. I’m volunteering as a pottery teacher at the Holborn Community Association.
How long have you been volunteering for?
I started in early October and I’ve gone about 7 times so far. I will keep volunteering for the rest of the year as it’s very fun and a good distraction from school!
What does an average volunteering session look like for you?
The Holborn Community Centre is right outside the kids’ school, so they’re brought straight over after they finish school at around 3:30pm. The class is only a couple of hours. During the class, they all have their own projects going on. They’ll play with their clay, make what they want, and then paint it.
We’re there to help make suggestions. Some kids are very ambitious with their projects, so it’s good to help them along. It’s always really fun! There’s a lot of energy in the room and lots of different types of children. I am mostly with the very loud ones, so that’s definitely entertaining.
Did you have pottery experience before this opportunity?
I do pottery as a hobby in my own time. When the kids make their stuff, I’m able to help make suggestions – but I’m definitely not an expert!
It helps that most of the kids have been coming to the class for a few years, so they know what they’re doing. You just have to manage them a little bit, because sometimes they get a bit distracted and might throw things around – have to remind them that we’re here to make pottery, not to throw pottery!
Have you found it easy to volunteer alongside your studies?
Yeah, it was quite easy because it is just a 1 or 2 hour commitment each week. And it’s not far from campus – just a short walk. It’s occasionally been difficult when my timetable is busier, but generally it’s super easy to fit in. They have three different sessions that you can help with too, so there is some flexibility.
Has there been a particular highlight of your volunteering experience so far?
I love getting to be around kids! When you’re around them, you don’t think about anything else. You don’t think about your phone, or school, or any other problem. Even if you’re having a bad day, it helps you just forget about everything else, so I think that’s the highlight for me. It’s a fun escape, and the kids and staff are all lovely to work with.
And have there been any challenges you’ve come across?
A challenge has been learning how to approach each kid differently.
There are very reserved, quiet kids who don’t want any help. They know what they’re doing and just really need you to cheer them on every now and then. They have their own quiet, peaceful corner.
There are others who a very loud. They love to dance, sing, and jump around, and you have to help quiet them down. So there’s a lot of learning how to adapt to the different groups – the quiet group and the loud group. And I think sometimes it feels hard to not overstep or make them feel like they’re being bossed around. I’ve had to learn how to talk to them in a kind way, but also be somewhat assertive.
What inspired you to start volunteering?
Last year, I decided I wanted to volunteer. So over the summer I went for a few weeks to Tanzania and did some volunteering there related to children. In the morning, we would build bathrooms for a primary school, and in the afternoon we would go to the library and help them with English and Maths. I learnt a lot of adaptability, patience, and communication skills there.
I also became an aunt a couple of years ago, which really sparked a desire to do something with children. I also wanted to try something very different to my degree and uni!
Would you recommend volunteering to others?
100%! I would especially recommend it to someone who is looking to be challenged. I think volunteering has to be a personal achievement and something that resonates with you. I think it’s also very important to cultivate something that is outside what you do every day at university if you want to be a well-rounded individual.
Thank you to Rebecca for sharing her experience with us! If you would like to get involved as a volunteer with Holborn Community Association, their current volunteering opportunities can be found here!