Putting Down Roots in a Foreign Country: The Quiet Power of Volunteering
Voluntary aid activities in the UK were established on a legal basis with the Poor Law of 1601. Today, volunteering has evolved into a strong network of solidarity run independently of state institutions and driven by the community's own initiative, with local councils at its core.
Leaving one country behind and starting over in another... This is not merely a change of geography; it is rebuilding your language, your habits, and even yourself over time. When the plane's wheels touch the runway, your suitcases contain not only your belongings but also the memories of the life you left behind, the traces of your profession, and the warmth of the routine you were accustomed to.
When I emigrated from Turkey to the UK, I brought with me my teaching profession, which I had worked hard at for years, the voices of my students, the unique smell of the classroom, and my professional identity. Naturally, I sought ways to integrate into life here and start afresh.
However, migration is a process that tests both one's patience and courage. Diploma equivalencies, professional competency exams, documents, procedures... While each step opens a new door, these doors open slowly. It was the volunteering system, deeply rooted in British culture, that guided me during this waiting period.
First Step into Volunteering: Birmingham City Council
My first volunteering experience was with Birmingham City Council's adult education unit. Here, I provided educational support to adults who particularly needed it. This was a project directly organised by the council, bringing together people from different sections of society.
Later, I took a step further in the UK education system by volunteering in the development process of a school. Together with the school principal and council officials, I worked on projects aimed at improving the overall quality and educational environment of the school. This allowed me to get to know the UK education system from the inside and contribute to society.
The Historical Roots of Volunteering in the UK
In the UK, the concept of ‘charity’ does not only mean making donations; its origins date back to the Middle Ages. At that time, churches and guilds emerged as the first institutions to help the poor. The 1601 ‘Elizabeth Poor Law’ provided a legal basis for charitable activities. In the 19th century, with the industrial revolution, volunteering became more organised as a means of finding solutions to social problems.
Today, volunteering has evolved into a powerful solidarity network run by the community on its own initiative, independent of state institutions, with local authorities at its core.
A Model Proposal for Turkey
In the UK, local authorities are one of the most important institutions supporting volunteering. I am sure that this model could be implemented very effectively in Turkey too, provided that political pressures cease and local authorities are able to perform their service duties. Of course, local authorities in Turkey operate with strong service networks and have even taken significant steps towards compliance with European Union standards and good governance principles. For example, some metropolitan cities have received the European Local Government Excellence Award (ELoGE); models have also been developed to measure the performance of municipalities in terms of transparency and participation. Despite all these positive developments, structures that systematically coordinate the voluntary activities of municipalities, especially those that provide professional experience to university students, are not yet widespread. There is serious potential in this area.
For example:
Nurseries and pre-school institutions → Students from the pre-school teaching department of education faculties can gain both work experience and practical skills by working in municipal nurseries.
Libraries and public education centres → Students studying Turkish language and literature, history or foreign languages can give voluntary lessons or organise workshops here.
Health units → Students studying nursing, physiotherapy, social services, etc. can participate in municipal elderly care centres or rehabilitation projects.
Culture and arts units → Fine arts, graphic design, and performing arts students can organise exhibitions, theatre projects, or art workshops at municipal cultural centres.
Environment and urban planning projects → Students studying landscape architecture, urban and regional planning, and environmental engineering can volunteer in green space development or recycling projects.
Such a system not only prepares students for their careers but also adds value to society and paves the way for deserving individuals to eventually take on professional roles in these fields.
What Volunteering Has Given Me
Volunteering in the UK has given me much more than just language learning. I have formed bonds with people of different ages, cultures and beliefs. I have observed the values, workings and dynamics of society from the inside. Most importantly, I felt useful during the waiting period.
Migration is not about uprooting our roots; it is about replanting them in new soil. Volunteering in the UK became my way of taking root in that soil. I believe that a strong volunteering system established in Turkey under the leadership of local authorities will be an investment in both the future of young people and society.
