I’ve learned that genuine service is an opportunity to do something that you enjoy while also making a real change in someone else’s life. This perspective is what led me to volunteer at Govinda’s restaurant in Kilburn. Govinda’s is a buffet restaurant that uses all profits for a programme called ‘Food for Life’. It sends out a van every Tuesday and Thursday evening to distribute hot, nutritious food to disadvantaged people in the city. I admired their purpose and wanted to play a small part in the positive impact they were making.
Throughout volunteering at Govindas, I’ve realised that even the smallest act, like serving a meal, can brighten someone’s day. I’ve developed valuable skills such as teamwork and communication, but also learned to appreciate things that we take for granted, like a hot home-cooked meal. It has enabled me to develop deeper values such as empathy and gratitude, which are lifelong qualities that extend far beyond the kitchen.
What I enjoy most is having a sense of camaraderie both with the people we serve and the volunteers I work alongside. The most challenging part is balancing other commitments like schoolwork, but it has taught me to prioritise what truly matters to me.
I would encourage others to give it a go. Service learning isn’t just blindly doing an act for the sake of it; rather, it’s growing as a person and becoming aware of the differences you can make.
Kalyan Jidugu
Year 10
