Her determination to participate in fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was among Nabila’s main reasons to actively participate in volunteering activities. Nabila Salsa Daniswara, a Japanese Literature student at Universitas Dian Nuswantoro (Udinus), is indeed motivated to benefit the public, as well as learn new experiences, including adapting to new environments and cultures.
“To me, being a volunteer is one of many ways to give positive contributions and expand my perspectives. I once participated in the AIESEC Global Volunteer. It was a program involving us teaching kindergarten, elementary, and junior high school students at a school in Thailand,” Nabila, also known as Nana, uttered.
Nana shared that the AIESEC Global Volunteer was an international program aimed at providing volunteers with a cross-country volunteering experience. It mainly focused on local community development through various projects, including education, environmental, and health fields. One of the projects involved in this program was a preparation for a seminar about introduction to local community and cultures, as well as conducting the projects per the themes.
“I was interested in this program as I sought to extend my insight by sharing experiences with other volunteers, learning from international communities, and exploring cultural differences while also positively impacting it,” she continued.
Before she could volunteer, there was a selection process Nana had to undergo, including filling out forms during the file selection and a virtual interview in English with the organizer.
“Previously, I had honed my English communication skills and noted a range of possible questions at the interview,” Nana, born in 2004, uttered.
For six weeks, Nana participated in the AIESEC Global Volunteer program in Thailand with a focus on SDG 4, namely, quality education. In the program, Nana was in charge of teaching children at a school in Thailand.
“Through this program, my skills, particularly public speaking, and problem solving, would significantly increase. Moreover, I could also develop my cross-cultural communication competence, practice my quick-thinking skills, especially in a diverse environment, and gather global perspectives,” Nana explained.
According to Nana, the campus also held a significant role in providing access to information concerning international programs, as well as pushing students to be active through seminars, workshops, and facilities.
For the time being, Nana is committed to further expanding her involvement in global programs focusing on education and culture. Nana also stated that she would like to encourage her fellow students to explore their hidden potential through volunteer programs and other student activities.
“I must say that you’ll never know until you try. Don’t be afraid, and try new things, as every step leads to personal growth,” she concluded. (Humas Udinus/Ika. Foto: Dok. Pribadi)
