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My first experiences of volunteering
Last year I joined the Down District Volunteer Centre Youth Forum. The first volunteering project I did was a fashion show. It was held so that we could raise money for one of the youth forum members to travel to Romania to volunteer at an orphanage for children with aids.
Janine Connolly got my friend and I involved in the project. On the Saturday my friend and I got the bus to Downpatrick and met up with the group at the Down District Volunteer Centre. As we arrived Janine was standing at the door and gave us a warm welcome. We went in and got warmed up. Everyone was really friendly we got tea and sandwiches and then the girls got their hair done.
We then headed up to the Down Arts Centre where we held the fashion show. Everyone helped by carrying boxes and bags up to the first floor. We had to blow up balloons and put the tea, coffee, biscuits and buns out. We went through a practice run and then went and got ready. I got my make up done and was ready to go. I got my first set of clothes on which were very summery.
I did my first walk and then as everyone else was walking up and down I went and got changed into my next set of clothes, which was a wedding dress. It was one of the most exciting days of my life. We got loads of photographs taken of us. When it was all over we all helped to tidy up. I wish we could have done more modelling.
When I got home I fell fast asleep on the sofa and when I woke I couldn't wait to ring my friend from Annalong. She came over I told her all about volunteering in the fashion show. I am so happy that Janine got us involved in this because it's so good to know that you can help change people's lives in Romania or all over the world just by volunteering and doing something fun to raise money for their needs.
In the end we raised a couple of hundred pounds, and it was all because of the volunteers who arranged the show and took part in it. In the future I hope I can still volunteer to raise money and do events like the fashion show.
BY LEANNE MILLS