I started my Masters degree in Contemporary History at the University of Sussex in September, and given that I was only timetabled four taught contact hours per week, I knew that I wanted to utilise my newfound free time by doing something that felt worthwhile. Therefore, in October I chose to apply to volunteer with RISE; on a personal level, feminism has played a deep role in the formation of my personal identity, and as such working with a charity invested in the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of women felt like the most appropriate way to channel some of my attention. My experiences in the past few months at RISE have reaffirmed my previous beliefs and demonstrated just how necessary feminism and the continued advocacy for women’s rights still is in the modern day.
Flexible hours
From another perspective, I have also been able to channel what I have seen and the interests that it has triggered into my university work, which has been beneficial! For example, I am currently in the midst of researching the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp and how solidarity was created between the women who protested there for one of my module essays. The symbiosis between volunteering and my education has been invaluable, and the flexibility from working one day (and limited hours) per week makes it ideal for all students in terms of accessibility.