Did you know that January 19th is National Day of Service? In honor of the day, people across the country will dedicate their time and expertise to serve their communities.
At Asante Africa Foundation, we believe that you don’t have to wait for National Day of Service to give back to the local and global community. We welcome interns and volunteers year around. Asante Africa Foundation is a heavily volunteer based organization; something we are very proud of. In honor of National Service Day, we wanted to highlight one of our very own volunteers.
Meet Gwen Mommeja! She joined us as a communications intern last summer and after her internship ended, Gwen decided to stay on as a volunteer. Gwen is a social media guru; she leads the social media team in raising Asante Africa’s online presence through various channels: Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.
“Volunteering for me is a way to be part of the community where we can exchange knowledge, opinions and ideas to reach common goals. I associate volunteering with giving,” says Gwen. And she has absolutely given her time, knowledge and heart. Gwen strongly believes in education and she is passionate about Asante Africa’s mission of increasing access to education and improving the quality of learning for children in East Africa. Gwen believes that everyone can volunteer or serve in their own way.
“By volunteering you will help the community grow. You will make a difference in someone’s life. Also, I think it is a unique opportunity to develop new skills, meet new people and develop friendships, increase your knowledge and maybe learn a new language,” says Gwen. We absolutely agree with her, our volunteers not only support our programs but also gain valuable professional experience.
We asked Gwen what she would advise to someone who might be interested in volunteering in honor of National Service Day. “National Day of Service can be the first step to start contributing to the community that you are interested in. There are plenty of communities, non-profits and associations that welcome volunteers. If I can give advice it would be not to hesitate, bring your family members and friends, and give back to others.”
In her free time Gwen loves meeting new people and exploring new places. She just returned from an adventurous trip to India, where she visited many cities including Delhi, Jaipur and Mumbai. She experienced India’s history, culture, food, spices and people. Thank you, Gwen, for sharing your thoughts and experience about volunteering with Asante Africa!
Every act of service counts. Whether it’s contributing your time to help someone in need or donating to support a cause you are passionate about, every gesture of service counts, everyday. So, how will you serve?
