I never thought when I picked up my First Class degree from Edinburgh University that two years later I would be sitting in a children's play center as a volunteer, just trying to spend time with kids whose mothers have lived on the streets or were the victims of violence.
Nor did I think, when I was the Founding Secretary General of a Model United Nations Conference in Bosnia and Herzegovina, that three years later I would be volunteering and sitting in a canteen with some street kids answering questions about the UK.
The truth is, I have, for the last few years, become used to being at the top of things. Either getting the top degree or by being the President of the organization, or in another position responsible in some way for managing whatever organisation I was working for or involved with.
As such, it has been quite a shock and a new experience to go from being at the top, to being at the bottom. To being a volunteer in an international charity, where to be honest, my responsiblities are pretty basic, its mainly just being there with the street kids or victims of abuse. Play games with them, chatting to them, trying to provide a sense of friendship and support.
But it is exactly this transition from top to bottom that has given me some inspiring new opportunitiies and insights into trying to make this world a better place.
It was much more glamorousat a fancy graduation ceremony than it was today at a young child's play centre. However, I have been able to see the real importance of having people working and being commited to work at this 'bottom' level. The street kids I work with are in clear need of that sense of support and understanding in their lives, and it seems that the best way this can be done is simply be being there. It doesn't matter if I got a First Class degree, or that once some time ago I helped to set up an MUN in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It seems that what matters most is that I am there, I am commited, and I care.
About Me
- Simon Walters
- My name is Simon Walters - I work for Casa Alianza Nicaragua. Casa Alianza Nicaragua is a non-profit NGO, working to protect, support and rehabilitate children living on streets, victims of abuse, violence, abandonment, commercial and sexual exploitation and human trafficking. I work as a specialist member of staff, coordinating healthy and sustainable activities for the kids in our protection, and on the international development side of things - working with all the Casa Alianza sites in Latin America. I hold a MA in International Law and Human Rights from the United Nations University for Peace, and a MA in History from the University of Edinburgh. I am very involved in the Model United Nations, and in 2009 served as the Founding Secretary General of Mostar International Model United Nations, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I also have experience in English teaching, coaching public speaking and debating, acting and radio presenting.
What is being at the top or being at the bottom? Don't you think that question implies a relative answer... The top means nothing without the bottom, and vice versa. Besides, what you called the bottom is actually the top: the sense of feeling needed and, in fact, help the people that most need you has an inestimable value.
ReplyDeleteI really agree with this comment, but.....in things like the UN system or other international organisations, I think there is an imposed sense of top and bottom.....
ReplyDeleteeg if you are behind a desk writing a resolution you are at the top, but if you are on the field as a teacher, nurse etc, it is the bottom. I for example, after getting my two degrees and lots of other things such as numerous MUNs, that I was expected to be working at this imposed top level, and I wanted to write this entry to justify what you are saying, that what might be viewed as the bottom, is as you said, the top.