Jewish Volunteering Network (JVN) - Voluntary Work in the Jewish Community

Inspirational Stories

Volunteer: Noel

Organisation: JAMI

Following my retirement from work in my mid 60's I was thinking about trying to put something back into the community by doing some sort of voluntary work which would be both useful and from which I could gain some personal satisfaction. By chance I met socially two of the parents who helped to found JAMI and realised from my chats with them that perhaps volunteering with their organisation might well suit me.

The 'members' of JAMI are a very mixed group of people of all ages and with a variety of diagnoses. However, I find that most people do respond to a friendly face and a listening ear. It never ceases to amaze me that behind the individual's exterior problems lies a wealth of talent and often humour.

My personal reward from volunteering is when sometimes I am able to draw someone out of their shell and even if only for a short while, they are able to talk brightly about their lives and aspirations.