Volunteer Day: Making a Difference Beyond the Desk

Moving to a new country can be exciting, but it’s also filled with challenges.
As a migrant, the excitement of new beginnings often fades quickly when faced with harsh realities: adapting to a new culture, finding a job, and trying to make a meaningful life in an unfamiliar place.
I know how it feels because I’ve been there.
There’s a sense of loneliness, uncertainty, and even frustration. You might have all the skills and experience, but the job market seems like a closed door, and you’re not sure where to start.
The feeling of being left out, or not belonging, can weigh heavily on you.
A Journey of Adaptation and Growth
Beyond the language barriers, it’s also about learning the professional culture, the unspoken culture, and doing the work expected of you in such a way that translates to a successful outcome as expected by your employer and team.
I’m thankful to be part of a great team at the Learning, Teaching, and Web Unit of the Information Services Group, especially the Digital Learning, Applications, and Media team. I’ll always be grateful to the team, my manager, the team lead, and the director of LTW for making my onboarding experience smooth.
I learned the acronyms, got to know the teams, understood the work culture, and learned the tools we use. This took away a lot of the uncertainty I had.
What if Things Could Be Different?
At the University of Edinburgh, every staff gets one day to volunteer for a cause of their choosing. We get to step away from our desks and give back to the community. Beyond taking a break from our daily tasks, it’s a chance to make a real impact on the lives of others and enrich our own lives in the process.
So, I thought to myself, what if we could host an event that helps people understand the challenges that come with adapting to a new environment and actively provides how to overcome them?
What if you could have access to the tools, resources, and mentors needed to open doors to opportunities for career growth?
That’s why I collaborated with some amazing people to host Vantage Point 2.0.
How Vantage Point Came to Life
In 2020, during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, I launched Vantage Point. What started as a small online event turned into a movement. Seven speakers, seven days, and hundreds of participants from Nigeria came together to talk about how we could reposition ourselves during uncertain times.
Vantage Point 2.0 was designed to ride on the success of the earlier edition as a physical gathering in Aberdeen, Scotland, focused on helping migrants navigate the local job market, adapt to the culture, and build meaningful careers. This was a team effort, made possible through collaboration with team members and partner organizations that believed in the vision.
We didn’t just talk about the struggles; we shared real solutions. We explored how to leverage technology for career growth, the power of networking, and the importance of adapting to a new work culture—all while staying true to ourselves.
We heard inspiring stories from experts who had walked in our shoes, who also offered advice and mentorship to those just starting. By the end of the event, many left with a renewed sense of purpose and actionable plans to move forward.
Why Volunteering Matters
Volunteering at Vantage Point was a powerful reminder of how collective effort can create significant change. Often, we think of volunteering as an individual act of kindness.
Ubuntu – I Am Because You Are
Vantage Point is about building a community rooted in the spirit of Ubuntu—“I am because you are.” This African philosophy reminds us that our strength comes from our connections with each other. None of us can truly succeed unless we lift each other.
Through the lens of Ubuntu, volunteering becomes about building a stronger, more connected community. It’s about understanding that our success is intertwined with the success of others.
When we share our knowledge, help each other, and support our community, we create a ripple effect that impacts everyone.
Similarly, when we work together to clean up the environment by reducing carbon emissions or keeping the oceans free from waste, we make the world safer for all living things. This creates a balance that helps the whole ecosystem.
That’s the power of community. Vantage Point isn’t just my story; it’s our story. Together, we’re creating a space where everyone has the chance to thrive.
What Can You Do from Where You Are?
Now, here’s the question I want to leave you with: What can you do right now to contribute to this change?
How can you, from where you are, start making a difference—not just for yourself but for others in our community?
Volunteer Day reminds us that we all have the power to make a difference.
It may be organizing an event like Vantage Point, supporting a local charity, or simply offering your time and skills; volunteering allows us to step beyond our usual routines and contribute to something greater.
So, the next time you have the opportunity to volunteer, take it!
Because remember, I am because you are.
Your actions, no matter how small, can create a ripple effect, bringing positive change to those you help and yourself.
Together, we can build a better world—one act of kindness at a time.
PS: What part of the story fascinates you and why? I look forward to know about this in the comments below.
Talk soon,
Edward.