fundraising Archives - Dundee International Women’s Centre

How it all began

My story started 4 years ago, when I began attending DIWC’s cooking class as a learner. I started the class as a way to cheer myself up and do something a wee bit different. I was experiencing health issues and was feeling really sorry for myself, as my children were growing up fast and didn’t need me as much as when they were younger.

After about a year of attending the class, I was asked if I would like to become a volunteer in the Basic Arts & Crafts class, as I was a very crafty person with many art skills. I jumped at this opportunity!

This started my volunteering journey at DIWC, supporting the learners to take part in art activities in the class. I enjoyed this very much, as the group was very welcoming and friendly. And I was still able to attend my favourite cooking class, as well as volunteering.

How my role evolved into teaching

Over time, I found that, in the cooking class, I began acting as a mentor to new learners. I would take my time to chat with them and encourage them to participate in every session. The teacher noticed this, and offered me a new voluntary role, where I could assist her by supporting all the new learners. I was very pleased at this and it has really helped to increase my confidence and self-esteem.

The Basic Arts & Crafts class evolved from supporting the teacher to becoming the class tutor, where I planned and delivered the art sessions to the learners. I loved this role even more, as it used all my art skills and knowledge. I enjoy watching the learners creating art projects and seeing the pride that they felt once they had finished their project.

volunteering opportunities in Dundee with DIWC

Teaching arts and crafts

As the Basic Arts & Crafts class was a success, I was asked if I could run a few blocks of crafts recycling sessions. I loved this idea and began volunteering another morning each week at DIWC, delivering Make Do & Mend sessions.

This was a great way for women to learn how to recycle old materials that they had at home. The class was a hit with learners and it now has a permanent place on DIWC’s timetable.

Fundraising so that others can participate in the classes too

Outwith the classes, I recently helped the Volunteer Coordinator to create DIWC’s fundraising group. We meet on a regular basis to plan new ways to raise funds, which will provide opportunities for more women to participate in DIWC classes and events.

As part of this group, I helped to establish the coffee shop as a way to raise money. I bake cakes and sell refreshments several times a week, alongside my other voluntary roles.

I feel that DIWC is an amazing place which is very uplifting and inspirational to all women who attend. It is a great pleasure to be part of. There are many ways you can get involved by donating your time and skills.

Having lived in the UK since the age of two, Vaqar grew up in London and then moved to Manchester, but found moving and settling in Dundee a bit more difficult as she had left her friends behind and felt isolated. Read how joining DIWC gave her a sense of purpose and belonging in the community.

A feeling of being different

“I was born in Pakistan and my parents came to the UK when I was 2 and I was brought up in London and then later moved to Manchester. I moved to Dundee in 1994 for my husband’s work.

In London, my brother and I were the only brown people in the entire school. I felt like people viewed us in a different way – I think that’s a difficult thing to understand at such a young age. We dressed differently and ate different foods so I did feel a bit different from everyone else. I remember staying for school dinners and one time I had sausages the same as everyone else. I went home and told my parents, the next day my dad wrote a letter to the school saying not to give me any meat. The differences were in how I dressed as I covered my legs and the other girls didn’t and how my mum dressed differently from the other mums too.

When I was younger I wanted to be an air hostess. I wanted to travel and see the world but my parents didn’t think it was the best career choice for me. When I was older I trained to be a hairdresser which I’m not too sure they were particularly keen on either. I feel like they would have preferred me to be a secretary or receptionist. Perhaps I had a little rebellious streak in me!

I do visit Pakistan fairly regularly, My heritage is Pakistan, yet when I go there I’m treated like a foreigner because I’ve spent most of my life in the UK. That was a bit difficult to comprehend when I was younger. I felt a bit like: “where do I fit in?” but as I grew older I realised that home is where the heart is so I identify the UK as home.

Moving to Dundee and the changes I had to make

Moving from Manchester to Dundee with my children was a lot more difficult than I had anticipated. I had a slight idea what Dundee was like because I had visited my husband there a few times before our family moved up but I was still apprehensive.

My kids settled in fine, they went to school and made friends but I felt really isolated moving away from all my family and friends. I found myself walking around feeling completely alien with no one I knew and trying to adjust to the difference in the accent as well.

Finding a sense of purpose with the DIWC

One day I met this Asian lady outside the school when I was waiting to pick up my son. We got talking about where she worked and she told me about DIWC. The very next day I was at the Centre! It’s been about 16 years now that I’ve been coming here.

I started off as a learner in the cooking class and I feel like I’ve learnt so much from the Centre including how to use a computer here and went on do to desktop publishing. My cooking skills have improved tremendously. I have also learnt how to ride a bike here.

I love coming to the Centre and I felt very much at home here, very comfortable. I never thought that I would one day end up working at the here, but now I am here it feels absolutely amazing. I just feel so blessed. The Centre has been a big part of my life and it never feels like work.

I regularly help with fundraising events for DIWC. I feel people don’t realise that we still rely on funds to run the Centre. DIWC couldn’t help all these hundreds of women if it didn’t have the money.

I find it so sad that some people still don’t know about the Centre and what it can do for them. Sometimes I feel like going up to people when they’re doing their shopping and telling them all about DIWC.

Since I started working here I just find it so amazing. The day just flies past as do the weeks! I’m not really looking to the future because every day I just feel so lucky and so blessed to be here in the present and I’m thoroughly enjoying it.

I feel happy now as being part of the Centre makes me feel part of the wider community. Working at DIWC gives me a sense of belonging as I have met so many people here and it gives me great satisfaction that I am maybe able to help other women who are isolated.”

Vaqar Salimi #womenofdundee

Meet the Volunteer: Lynne’s journey from learner to class tutor