I had the opportunity to volunteer for the community mural project organised by the Sustainability Service with Junior Sport Hub (JSH).
My role included participating in an introductory meeting on mural painting and community engagement, followed by three days of site visits and workshops with the community’s young people.
Over approximately two weeks, I collaborated creatively with the student team, culminating in three days dedicated to sketching and painting the final design. The goal was to creatively capture and reflect the ideas and thoughts expressed by the youth at JSH, ensuring that everyone felt a sense of belonging and representation in the mural.
Reasons to volunteer
I believe that art is a powerful tool for self expression, capable of transcending language barriers and uniting people from diverse backgrounds. Through this opportunity, I aimed to ensure that every voice is heard and that each individual in the community experiences the joy and pride of being represented in a beautiful mural.
As an international student who has lived in the UK for over three years, I was eager to give back to the community that has welcomed and accepted me with open arms.
I also hoped to gain insights into facilitating communication and transforming creative ideas into a cohesive design. Despite my limited experience with collaborative murals, I was excited to embrace this challenge.
Pushing forward with new confidence
Through this experience, I learned how to connect effectively with people in a short time frame. This opportunity allowed me to expand my creative skillset and gain valuable experience in mural painting.
Learning to consolidate ideas into a mural design that satisfied client criteria, while interacting with people from diverse backgrounds, made it a truly fulfilling experience.
One of the most rewarding aspects of volunteering was witnessing the young participants in the creative workshop respond to our guidance, gradually open up, and become more confident in expressing their ideas. Learning to use the paints for the mural and tackling the challenge of paint drips added an element of fun to the experience.
Advice for future volunteers
Receiving guidance from the Sustainability Service and a professional mentor artist was an enriching experience.
Connecting with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and contributing to the community was also incredibly rewarding.
Volunteering provided me with a sense of self-fulfilment beyond my academic studies and helped me expand my portfolio outside of my subject area. It also allowed me to apply the knowledge I have acquired throughout my years of study to real-life situations.
More information about volunteering
Read more student profiles about volunteering
Find out more about volunteering opportunities as a student at Leeds
If you’re a not-for-profit organisation in Leeds that would benefit from student volunteers, email the Volunteering Team at volunteer@leeds.ac.uk