Janet
Volunteer Profile
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background
I’m a Kiwi born Chinese, and I love culture and people and food. I have a background in tourism marketing, with working experiences ranging from retail, hospitality, events, marketing and research. Currently, I’m in a research role.
What volunteer opportunities have you been involved in or are you currently involved in?
I used to volunteer and translate for friends of the Chinese community in situations like school interviews, legal consultations, doctor appointments, MSD appointments etc...
Over the Summer, I volunteer for Life Flight Trust, helping with them with marketing and event planning activities. Part of that was helping with their flagship event, Life Flight Open Day. Where I also did some volunteer ground work on the actual day of the event.
I also volunteer guest lecture for tourism and marketing classes at tertiary level every once in a while, as I love knowledge sharing and learning together.
If you could describe volunteering in one word, what would that word be?
Philanthropic
Why do you volunteer?
I enjoy helping others and I want to be able to use my skills and resources where I can to help others. I also learn a lot myself during all my volunteering experiences, even ones where I take on a “teaching” role. The experiences always lead to great new encounters with great people and its just a great feeling overall.
Who is your biggest hero or inspiration?
I have a lot of heroes, but the ones who have influenced me the most in being able to help others are probably my family, especially my grandparents. I’ve grown up watching them help others without ever expecting things in return. Quite the opposite, when others try and gift back they always take it as a big fuss and feel bad for taking things. They really just do it and not expect things back, well maybe one thing and that’s simple gratitude. Which I think is important, because it's just manners and respect.
The people they have helped over the years have had aspects of their lives improved, some little, some big and I think that's a wonderful thing. It's like watching our community, our world around us become a better place just from small gestures my grandparents have made, made me realize I want to get involved in to play a part in making the world a better place too.
What is your mantra or the most important value you live by?
Treat others the way you want to be treated.
What do you love about Collaborate?
I love the initiative, I love the idea of matching people and skills. Whilst I believe that the core of volunteering is having that heart and thoughts to want to help, but also important to know your limits and capabilities so that your willingness to help doesn’t turn into a negative due to lack of skills.
Collaborate makes volunteering more effective and efficient. Great idea!