Charles Darwin, a Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics student at UWA, recently volunteered 100 hours to help disability services organisation Cahoots deliver their programs, through a McCusker Centre for Citizenship internship.
“I had the opportunity to be involved with multiple areas of work with Cahoots, rather than a single project. I created posters and training modules, researched activities and assisted with volunteer management, events, programs, and camps,” Charles said.
“The most rewarding element of my internship was participating in a school holiday program which I helped plan – I was able to see the plans come to fruition and be enjoyed by the participants.
“By helping organise events, I supported Cahoots in providing new and fun experiences for young people with disability, as well as respite for primary carers.”
Charles said that the internship had given him greater understanding of working in the disability sector in a professional office environment.
“As someone who has been involved with the disability sector, I was aware of the challenges faced by persons with disability, however, the internship opened my eyes to the organisational difficulties associated with providing services to a community that has such varying needs.”
Brandon Lindquist, Volunteer Coordinator with Cahoots, said that Charles had made a remarkable impact on Cahoots and the services offered by the organisation.
“Charles actively contributed to a range of smaller projects, playing a crucial role in volunteer management, service planning, and even joining programs to directly assist our participants,” Mr Lindquist said.
“This gave Charles a front-row seat to the awesome tapestry of what our organisation is all about… We are thankful for Charles’ dedication and hard work throughout the internship - he earned the right to feel proud of his contribution!”
Charles said he applied for the McCusker Centre for Citizenship internship program because he wanted to gain practical experience and put his skills to use in the not-for-profit sector.
“I would recommend a McCusker Centre internship to other students - it is an eye-opening opportunity to understand problems that exist in our society, and an opportunity to grow.”