An Interview with Kenisha Aouk, Member of the VFF USA National Youth Leadership Council

1. Getting to Know You

Questions:

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what led you to volunteer with the Vicente Ferrer Foundation?
What inspired you to get involved with the Foundation specifically?

Answer:

I am a rising senior in high school and I started volunteering with VFF because I connected with their mission to combat poverty in rural parts of India which I wanted to be a part of. Since I do not have the ability to travel to India for a period of time in order to volunteer at RDT facilities, I felt volunteering for VFF through fundraising and outreach work was a way I could still get involved. 

I wanted to get involved with this foundation specifically because everytime I travel to India with my family for vacation, I am struck by the widespread poverty and homelessness I see, specifically in more rural parts of India. Although I don’t have the ability to support them directly, I believe by being part of this foundation, I can contribute to a meaningful cause I care about, providing aid to communities in poverty. 

2. Volunteering Highlights

Questions:

How long have you been volunteering, and what keeps you motivated?
Can you share a memorable project or moment from your time volunteering?

Answer:

I have been volunteering with VFF for around 6 months and what motivates me is the tangible effect volunteering, especially through fundraising and running campaigns, have on the rural communities in India. Although fundraising is difficult and pushes me out of my comfort zone, I often think back to the students I saw at RDT’s inclusive school in Anantapur and the young athletes at the sports centers which fuels my desire to do more. 

 My most memorable project would be my first fundraiser which was raising money for India Giving Day. It was a challenge, but it helped me grow, taught me different outreaching strategies(which I will be implementing in future projects), and showed me how small actions lead to a real change. 

3. Impact and Community

Questions:

How do you think your work has contributed to the communities the Foundation serves?
Is there a particular story or experience that stands out to you from your volunteering?

Answer:

As a volunteer for VFF USA, I contributed to the foundation’s mission by raising money and through outreaching for India Giving Day to directly help communities through any money raised and create more awareness for VFF and its goal. 

A particular experience that stands out to me  was India Giving Day since it was my first fundraiser. This moment stands out to me since it started my journey with volunteering for VFF as well as showed me the importance of collective action. Being able to support initiatives that improve education, health, and opportunity in rural communities in India made the experience rewarding.

4. Personal Growth

Questions:

What have you learned through volunteering that has influenced your personal or professional life?
How has this experience changed your perspective on global development or social impact?

Answer:

Volunteering for VFF impacted my understanding in order to make a difference. and give back to the community, you need to take action. This experience furthered my commitment in pursuing a career in medicine where I can take direct action to provide medical assistance to my community. 

Working with VFF shifted my view that you do not need to be in a location in order to make an impact. Through the help of fundraisers and locally run events, you can connect people from around the world to contribute to a cause without travelling long distances to volunteer.

5. Looking Ahead

Questions:

What excites you about the Foundation’s future work, and how do you plan to stay involved?
What advice would you give to someone thinking about volunteering with the Foundation?

Answer:

VFF’s work is exciting to me since it addresses several issues that rural communities face and is able to provide them with the support and resources that each individual in that community requires. For example, when I visited RDT’s inclusive school in Anantapur, I saw visually impaired students using specific programs on the computer to help them study for and take the 10th grade board exams. I plan to remain involved by running local projects such as collaborating with local cafes to increase outreach, promote VFF, and raise money as well as projects within school such as selling handmade bracelets to fundraise. 

I would advise any future volunteers to ensure they are reaching out to other people who are also wanting to volunteer with VFF. Not only will this increase volunteering efforts but it will make it easier for volunteers to run events and make significant contributions when working in a team versus themselves. 

6. Fun Question

Question:

When you’re not volunteering, what do you like to do in your free time?

Answer:

When I’m not volunteering I love to practice Taekwondo, read books, crochet, draw, and learn languages on Duolingo. I’m currently learning French and Korean! I also love traveling and trying out new foods(I added a couple pictures from my recent trips to Washington DC and India!)