INTERVIEW SESSION WITH HD: BECOMING A VOLUNTEER

HoneyDrops: Thank you so much for doing this

Kayode Martins: It’s my pleasure ma. Thanks for having me.

HoneyDrops: Can we get to meet you?

Kayode Martins: My name is Kayode Martins Fadesere, a graduate of the University of Ilorin, a global citizen, serial Volunteer and Advocate of Good governance.

HoneyDrops: Great to meet you. So, how long have you been volunteering?

Kayode Martins: For 4 years now.

HoneyDrops: Can you give us insight as to what  volunteering is all about

Kayode Martins: Volunteering is an act or process of making yourself available for specific tasks either in promotion of peace, civic engagement, community development etc without expecting a token or some amount of money from anyone as compensation for all that he/she does.

HoneyDrops: So, what are the benefits of becoming a volunteer and volunteering for the individual and then, to society?

Kayode Martins: The benefit of Volunteering for individuals.

1. It’s a platform that allows you to contribute to Humanity.
2. It serves as a platform to build yourself for the future by gaining experience through the task you might be working on.
3. Volunteering exposes you to know more about social problems, (as volunteers one of the key areas we always drive into the creation of solutions to problems)
4. It creates an avenue for you to meet people with great minds and potential.
5. It’s a platform for you to network and explore.

Benefits of Volunteers to Community

1. Volunteers in the community create awareness and sensitization of citizens on some problems that might be facing society. e.g since the beginning of Covid-19 volunteers have helped to sensitise many citizens on how to stay safe and take care of their family.
2. It helps the community to take care of some basic things without relying on the government all the time, e.g cleaning of the community, which is a task embarked on by some volunteers just to make sure our community is clean to prevent the outbreak of some diseases.
3. It exposes the social problems of a particular geographical location in which volunteers of a great mind rob their minds together look into the causes of the problem and provide a solution to it with the mechanism of execution.

HoneyDrops: Wow, it is great for everyone. Nobody is left out.

But how do volunteers get remunerated? Or they don’t? What is it like working for free? Why do people do it?

Kayode Martins: Volunteers don’t get remunerated because what they are doing is Service to Humanity. Although, sometimes they might get compensated.

If you have the intention of being remunerated as a volunteer, you are no longer a volunteer, but someone working to meet his needs, which might even reduce the level of productivity that is expected from him or her.

There is something I will like to correct, there is nothing like working for free. When you work for someone and seems as if you are not paid for the service. You are developing yourself at that level and it’s also an avenue to acquire more knowledge, showcase your skills and get connected for an appointment or those that will employ you and pay for your service.

So many people have their reason for volunteering, for me, I will say the reason why I volunteer is that it serves as an avenue to impact life by putting smiles on peoples face and contributes towards the development of humanity.

HoneyDrops: I guess this is the struggle many people face when choosing to volunteer. Thanks for sharing this.

Kayode Martins: It’s my pleasure.

HoneyDrops: What would you say about finding a niche when volunteering?

A lot of people end up doing so many things at once and up frustrated?

Kayode Martins: Before you volunteer for any NGO or any program, Set your goals on what you wish to achieve in such a program. After you might have set your goals, look at the goals of such an organization if it aligns with yours.

In doing this you can use the global goals as a compass in this area. Almost all organizations work towards the attainment of one or two SDGs goals.

For this reason, you need to familiarize yourself with the 17 global goals. Pick out the goals you are passionate about, look for an organization that is working toward the goal, volunteer for them then you will find it easy discharging the task given to you.

HoneyDrops: Awesome

READ HERE: INTERVIEW SESSION WITH HD: POLITICS IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES.

One word to describe volunteering for you?

Kayode Martins: Volunteering is an avenue to make an impact and help in transforming lives to build a greater society and give hope to the hopeless.

HoneyDrops: Are you in any organization or do you currently run any birthed by you?

Kayode Martins: Yes.

I’m currently a volunteer at the Brain Builder Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI). Brain Builder Youth Development Initiative is an organisation that promotes good governance, civic engagement and peaceful political participation, youth entrepreneurship, advancing civic liberties and championing the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).

Presently I’m not running or thinking to birth any organization.

Creating an organization is easy but running it by putting in great minds and managing people is a great task that has pulled down many organizations.

HoneyDrops: Sounds Very thoughtful Sir. We have come to the end of the interview.

Thanks a lot for doing this.

If our audience would like to reach you can you give us your contact information? Like your email and social media links

Kayode Martins: Anybody that feels to reach out to me can make use of these mediums.

Email: martinskayode14@gmail.com

Twitter: twitter.com/fadamakay

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