Jemima (R) helps CYF trainees build their confidence and communication skills
In 2021, Jemima Villanueva realised she was craving something more meaningful in her life, so she decided to join CodeYourFuture as a volunteer.
“The pandemic really widened the gap between the rich and the poor, and those whose lives got worse vs. those whose lives got better. The need to address that disparity felt particularly acute for me then.”
Professional development sessions build trainee confidence.
As part of the Professional Development Team at CYF, Jemima uses her experience in brand partnerships to help trainees develop soft business skills: communication, teamwork, professionalism, presenting and more. The team does so via a series of one-hour sessions every Saturday.
“On top of that, I also volunteer as a Professional Development Coach. I stay close to three trainees and help them with their work, and keep an eye on how they are coping with the demands of the course. The professional development work is instrumental in building the trainee’s confidence.”
About the volunteer community at CYF, Jemima says: “They are fantastic and supportive. They are very responsive to any queries, and are on-hand at Saturday sessions to help us with any immediate questions we may have.”
“The sense of community is what keeps you engaged.”
As someone from a non-coding background, the role has also been a learning experience for Jemima. “It has given me a better understanding of coding as I have absolutely no experience in that field! it has also made me aware of the things that I know and have experience in that are of value to share with the trainees.” It has also helped with Jemima’s own soft skills development, in particular she highlights “patience, tolerance and discipline with my time!”
Beyond her own development, Jemima is clear that the core value in volunteering with CYF has come through contributing to the journey of the trainees. “There is a real sense of community, and contributing to the transformation of people who have had a very hard path in life.”
“Most fun? The sociability and camaraderie at in-person classes!”
In terms of experiences that have made her happiest to be a CYF volunteer, Jemima points to a particular Saturday session which focused on privilege. “It was really tricky to navigate within such a diverse group, and we had to be incredibly sensitive. But it was amazing to introduce a new concept to the majority of the class and get them to realise that we all have different types of privilege and can all help others. Some trainees were quite emotional at the end of the class.”
It’s not all tricky topics, volunteering can also be very fun. In particular Jemima has loved “the sociability and camaraderie at the in-person classes.”
Jemima (second from left) gets support from the other CYF volunteers.
A final word for anyone thinking of volunteering themselves?
“You will love it,” says Jemima. “The people are just beautiful and it will be incredibly rewarding.”
CodeYourFuture is always looking for volunteers who can support in a wide range of ways. If you think you might be interested, take a look here.