Week van de vrijwilliger — meet Wambui
Between the 28th of February and the 7th of March, we celebrate our volunteers. And do they deserve it! As a non-profit organisation, Co-Searching relies on many talented, interesting people, who together and each in their own way, give their time and effort to contribute to a better world. But who are they? And what do they do exactly? Today, we’re asking Wambui a few questions!
Hi there! My name is Wambui, but my friends call me by my nickname: Bo.
I am from Kenya, I live in Ghent and I’m a student at the university, pursuing engineering. I have a background in science and technology, which I decided to improve with the pursuit of further studies in Europe.
How did you join Co-Searching?
A few months ago, I was seeking volunteering opportunities as a sort of part-time job that I could combine with my studies, when I found Co-Searching. I really love writing, it’s how I express myself, so I decided to apply as a blogger, to share my experiences with other people. After an online meeting with Annelies, who is the responsible person for East Flanders, I felt like I could find my place in this organisation and I just started!
And how do you like working with Co-Searching, so far?
Graduate school studies can be very demanding, so it can be challenging to find the time to write for the blog. But volunteering is an important service to the community and I feel like it really builds heartfelt connections in the journey of job seeking. I’m looking forward to having more opportunities to meet some of the other volunteers face to face. This has been complicated until now because of the current global pandemic.
What do you feel are the biggest challenges right now, for job seekers?
Finding the right match between knowledge and skills is definitely a journey. Another difficulty I can really relate to, is the struggle of chasing job opportunities that demand work experience, which is difficult for a young person straight from school.
What are your plans for the near future?
After my studies, I hope to practice engineering and specifically, operations management. There are two paths for me: either I return to Kenya immediately after my studies and contribute to the industry with my acquired knowledge and skills from Europe; or I gain industrial experience in Europe before going back home. East or West, home is best! I would describe myself as a homegrown Kenyan who believes in making a difference in different parts of the world while maintaining my roots.
You chose the character of Nakia, from Black Panther, to illustrate your portrait; what do you like about her?
I chose Nakia because of her boldness and intelligence when solving problems in Wakanda. I admire the actress who plays her role, Lupita Nyo’ngo, who is Kenyan. It is important to have representation globally and she does so very well!
