News

Michiko’s Experience at the Community Plot: Whetstone Stray Allotments

16th September 2024

I`m Japanese and I live in Japan. This summer, I spent a month in London with my son.
In Japan, I work as a social worker at a dementia day service and I’m also involved in community welfare activities.

What inspired you to volunteer?

The reason I aspired to my current job goes back to my middle school years when I lived in London. I was inspired by seeing how volunteering and charity activities support society.

Now, working in Japan, I sometimes face challenges and feel stuck, and I wanted to find hints for solutions. I decided to take advantage of this opportunity to stay in London for a month to view my work in Japan from a different perspective.

How did you find out about the volunteering role?

The one month I had available to participate was quite short, and finding a volunteering opportunity I could join was a real challenge. Despite that, Alice from Volunteering Barnet searched for options and made suggestions. Among those, I was able to find one that I really wanted to participate in.

Tell us about your volunteering role

I participated in activities at an organic farm. Beforehand, I received an email with information about what items to bring, and the location was explained clearly. On the day of the activity, I received a brief orientation and had my physical condition checked, which made me feel safe and comfortable to participate.

At the farm, I worked together with others to remove weeds and harvest vegetables. There was nothing particularly difficult about the tasks. It was a very beautiful and pleasant farm, and everyone there was calm and kind. Working in such a relaxed environment, chatting with other participants while doing the tasks, helped me feel at ease and brought me a sense of peace and kindness.

I realized how healing it can be to work slowly in a gentle and safe environment, where you have a secure place and companions you can rely on. The staff’s interactions were kind and calm, making me feel both comfortable and at ease. Other participants also mentioned, “Coming here is so therapeutic.”

Unfortunately, there aren’t many such places in the area where I live. This experience has inspired me to create a similar space in Japan. I am truly grateful for having had this valuable opportunity.

Can you sum up your experience in three words?

• Coziness
• Affinity
• Soothing