Reflection on Community Service with EFAC Scholar Job Ekasiba
As part of the EFAC Wezesha Journey, students commit to a 3-month self-directed community service project between the end of high school and the beginning of university. What follows is Job’s reflection on his community service experience from May-August 2022.
As I was looking for a place to volunteer during the 3 month break as I awaited to join university, I searched for opportunities in several organizations including health facilities and schools, but finally my mind decided to settle on a library set-up. That is when I got to know Badili Zone Library, which serves the Mukuru community. The library has been the perfect service-learning organization for me because I genuinely love to work and interact with kids. I appreciated having the opportunity to positively influence young high school and primary school children within the realm of education because I see a lot of importance in pursuing knowledge and constantly bettering yourself scholastically.
I volunteered every Monday to Saturday (9:00am-5:30pm). I often saw remarkably familiar faces of families, neighbors, and their children and was proud to say that I am volunteering at Badili Library. During my volunteer work, I provided tutoring to young students who may not get the same kind of help with their homework at home. I also sorted the returned books and piled according to their categories, which helped the librarian to put them in order on the correct shelves and sections. With this activity I came across lots of new books, I also got to recommend some other useful revision books that were present in my former school library but were missing in the Badili Library. Working in an environment with books increased awareness of my ability to increase my reading capacity and be more acquainted with popular authors and their books. I also liked the basic computer literacy that was organized by the founders, as it was a wonderful opportunity to offer the digital literacy skills I had to the learners. One of the fun moments I enjoyed was co-leading an inspirational and educational movie session, which the library committee hosts once every holiday when the students are about to go back to school.
Volunteering at Badili Library gave me the strength and confidence to get close to the community without any barriers in a quiet, calm environment. I improved my social service skills daily, working with the founders (Lefty, Claris, Meso and Judy) and serving the community. I always did my best because the founders were trusting my work. I made sure my work was that which they expected from me, which gave me full satisfaction at the end of the day. There are no limitations for growth in serving the community and it can be grown at all times and all ages. I feel I impacted many, including myself.