This week we are sharing reflections from some of CVS Inverclyde’s volunteers. Volunteers support a range of projects while learning new skills. Khalida is an accomplished journalist who recently moved to the area. She began volunteering to learn more about the community while improving her English.
My name is Khalida, and I am an Afghan journalist now living in Inverclyde. I have been in Scotland for over one year and six months and reside in the wonderful town of Greenock.
Before I was forced to leave Afghanistan, I worked as a journalist for the Woman and Law Magazine. My role included conducting interviews, drafting reports and photographing events and gatherings related to women’s rights. I collaborated with other respected publications such as Kabul Weekly, the Hewad Daily Newspaper, Sabawon Magazine and Bazar Magazine.
During our presidential elections, I worked as a public awareness (civil education) campaigner in six districts of Afghanistan encouraging women to understand the importance of participating in the voting process.
After the Taliban regained control of my country, jobs and educational opportunities for Afghan women became severely restricted especially for female journalists. Many of us were dismissed from our positions and faced serious threats. I was forced to leave my country with my family because of these threats.
I applied for asylum in the United Kingdom and after waiting for news over a year my request was fortunately approved, my family and I were then granted refugee status.
My ambition is to be a journalist here in Scotland and to be a voice for Afghan women especially in the area I live in. I am passionate about documenting the experience, the achievements and the challenges faced by Afghan women and to share their stories with the wider world.
As well as pursuing my ambition to get back into a journalist role, I also volunteer in the Lyle Kirk Church kitchen at the café shop. Through volunteering in this role, I have helped introduce traditional Afghan dishes to the local community. These have been warmly welcomed by local residents, and this cultural exchange has helped foster closer connections between diverse communities.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the kind people of Scotland, especially the Refugee Support Workers and Gaynor from Your Voice for help and support in opening doors for us in the community.
My next step in this journey is to volunteer at CVS Inverclyde to help celebrate and promote volunteering taking place in the local community. I will be writing blogs about individuals doing extraordinary things across a wide variety of local organisations. I am looking forward to meeting organisations and the people volunteering with them to discuss more about the contributions they make in their community.
To find a local volunteer opportunity that suits you, visit www.volunteerinverclyde.com or email admin@cvsinverclyde.org.uk