“I’m not someone who sees people from other places as different to me – I always go with humanity.”

When Abimbola heard the Taliban had retaken control of Afghanistan in 2021, she was aghast. 

“I was really sad watching the news,” she remembers. “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh. All these people are trying to flee.’” 

Particularly concerned about the violence and discrimination Afghan women and girls would face, Abimbola resolved to help those who made it to the UK as refugees. 

“As a woman, I relate. I was like, ‘If these women don’t get out, they are going to live under
severe oppression. I want to try and help the ones that do get out.’”

Abimbola now has two part-time jobs – one in education at a local authority and the other for the schools team at a charity – but at the time she was just 20-years-old and studying Arabic and global development at university. 

She laughs, remembering that she mistakenly believed her Arabic would be useful. “It was quite silly of me. I was like, ‘Let me find a volunteering opportunity’, not knowing at the time that people from Afghanistan don’t speak Arabic! I soon found out they speak Farsi. But my heart was in the right place!”

Creating a welcome space – with snacks and Google Translate!

RnB is held on Monday evenings in a cricket club in Lewisham. Around 30 young people usually attend, who originate from a range of countries, including Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Syria and Afghanistan.

“It's a lot of young people!” says Abimbola. “So it's very busy, especially with all these different languages – there is a lot of Google Translate! But it's really nice.”

As the only volunteer or staff member with a car, Abimbola is in charge of the food shop, so she dashes out of work to the supermarket, before arriving at 5pm to set up.

“We get loads of snacks because a lot of them are coming from college,” she explains. “If they come in early, they might have homework. Or sometimes there will be new young people with their social workers or fosters carers, so we’ll register them.”

Games, shared food, and building confidence

The evening starts with intro games to get everyone practising their English, before
heading into a more in-depth session, which could be anything from a fitness or dance
session, to a public speaking workshop, to a session from the Refugee Council
explaining what their rights are.

Around 7.45pm they all sit down to eat a meal together, prepared by Abimbola or one
of the other volunteers, alongside any young people who want to get involved.

“We make big, easy things, like spaghetti bolognese or lasagne. We've got one boy, who is Syrian, and he used to work in a Lebanese restaurant in Syria. He's super good at making salads, so he's always in the kitchen.”

As well as building her cooking skills, Abimbola has also grown hugely in self-confidence over the years by leading the games and group sessions.

“I was quite shy when I first started,” she explains. “I knew I wanted to help people, but
facilitating a session would have been my worst nightmare – now that’s absolutely
normal, and I’m happy to do it!”

A focus on friendship, fun and connection

The evening ends with a closing circle and often more games or football. For Abimbola,
it’s this focus on fun – and on doing normal teenage things – that feels so important.

“If they are having problems contacting their solicitor or social worker, we’ll do referrals,
but our space is more a bubble for fun in their week. Often they will play a song from where they’re from, or tell us about a food they love, or old games they played as a kid. It’s a really nice space for them to disconnect and turn off.”

Over the four years she has been volunteering, Abimbola has learned that the most valuable thing she can offer is kindness and connection.

“When I first started, I was the same age as some of them, so I was nervous. You feel a bit like, ‘What do I even know?!’ But they have been really open about how lonely they have felt not knowing anyone, so they are really appreciative of building bonds and friendship.”

Abimbola has built such a connection with some of the young people, they have started to see her as family.

“A few even refer to me as their older sister!” she smiles. “It’s just the little things we do each week – eating pizza together and laughing. Or them telling me what their mum would make in Sudan and me chasing down those ingredients so we can try and make it together the next week.”

The young people have also started building family-like bonds with one another. 

“Two of the boys came in matching outfits. I was like, ‘Why do you look so alike?’ And they said: ‘We're brothers now.’ They have no family here, so they are like each other’s adopted family and it’s really sweet.”

Abimbola is gaining things too

But it’s not just the young people who are gaining from all this. For Abimbola, having a weekly commitment that is all about humanity, relationship building and compassion, is tremendously beneficial too, and helps her get perspective on what’s really important in life.

“For me personally, there's been some weeks when something bad has happened in my own life, like a breakup or other little things. But because I know these people are relying on me, I have to go, because I know these smiley faces are going to be happy to see me there.”

“They help me realise the little inconveniences in life are insignificant. Sometimes I miss my mum and I call her about silly things like what kind of wash I should put something in. And the fact that they are here and can’t do that… It just makes you realise the bigger picture.”

Opportunities all over the world

The benefits of volunteering don’t stop there for Abimbola. She has also had opportunities to travel and meet other like-minded volunteers – first at our youth conference in Wales and then at the Red Cross / Red Crescent youth leadership academy in Denmark.

“The two week programme in Denmark was with delegates from 15 countries and it was so interesting. You see volunteering from across the world. There was a guy from Malawi and for him a big struggle is water and sanitation. And I met someone from the Palestinian Red Crescent who I then met up with when I lived in Jordan for my year abroad at university.”

“So it helped me make worldwide connections with people that even though you are doing different things, the seven principles are the same.”

Volunteering is a hugely fulfilling part of Abimbola’s life, bringing her into connection with people in her local community and all over the world. It’s something she plans to continue for many years to come.

“I’m not someone who sees people from other places as different to me – I always go with humanity. The beautiful thing is that Red Cross and Red Crescent Movements are worldwide. So no matter where I go, I'll always find a connection to it.”