By Mohammed Dahiru Lawal
“We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone,” Ronald Reagan
The above rhetoric of the 40th President of the United States of America, Ronald Wilson Reagan, who served from 1981 to 1989, was calligraphed conspicuously on the light yellow-green or limeade green coated wall at the hallway of the Grove Outreach Center occasioned by adorable photos of some families, couples and young volunteers at work, encircling it.
The same pattern re-occurred with a different set of quotes that speaks on volunteerism, and service to humanity in strategic angles of the well compartmentalised modest building. This was one of the points of attraction as we walked through the home, sleeves on ankle, ready to work.
Some of us Muslims had just returned from Eid where we observed prayers inside a hotel (story for another episode) and as part of the line up for our activity of the day after the Eid prayer interlude was Community Service – spending time organising and preparing food distribution for the community. That was followed by a panel session with NGO leaders; Karen Joyner, CEO Peninsula Foodbank and Aaron Thompson, CEO Olde Town Medical Center – with reflections on volunteerism and fundraising. The Day will be capped with an Academic session on authentic voice in public speaking with Professor Michelle King a senior lecturer of speech at William & Mary and also an amazing young Professor whose voice and methods (gamification of knowledge) stand out in impactful teaching.
So when our group disembarked from the bus that conveyed us to the outreach, electrified by the “ginger” of the Zulu hit song “Jerusalema, ikhaya lami…hambena” by South African DJ and record producer Master KG which has the spirit of Africa running through it in addition to over 185 million YouTube views, we were warmly welcomed by the outreach officials and the ever cheerful Sylvia Mitterndorfer our institute site lead who serves as the Director of Global Education Office, Global Partnership, William & Mary, Reves Center for International Studies. They explained to us that our task was to volunteer in preparing food distribution for the community, washing storage crates and organising the cloth lines, pastries and fresh fruits store.
As we were being split into groups for this purpose, I just kept thinking in my head, if only our “Aikin Lada” back home is more organised and intentional, beyond sweeping the Mosques or Church for example.
In Hausa, the general language of Northern Nigeria, the phrase “Aikin Lada” literally translates into “rewarding work” and from my religious viewpoint, there is a great emphasis on the intentions behind one’s actions and how it benefits humanity. Performing work with sincere intentions, seeking the pleasure of God, and aiming to benefit oneself and others are essential components of rewarding work.
Philosophically, this also aligns with the thought of Karl Kraus, an Austrian writer and journalist, known as a satirist, essayist, aphorist, playwright and poet when he said, “humanity is the Washerwoman of society that wrings out its dirty laundry in tears,”
Back home, the concept of “Aikin Lada” is often executed in that act of giving not in the humility of working for the poor and needy. Even in the act of giving, it’s often done by intentionally displaying one’s attributes, possessions, or achievements in a grandiose manner to gain attention, admiration, or validation from others and not for communal prosperity.
Until when giving begins to go beyond individual pride, emphasizes collective welfare and recognizes that the success and prosperity of one individual or group should contribute to the overall advancement and flourishing of the entire community, then we may never get it right.
By my estimation, communal prosperity reflects a state or condition in which the members of a community collectively experience well-being, progress, and success. It should be characterised by the equitable distribution of resources, opportunities, and benefits within the community, fostering a sense of shared prosperity and fulfillment – which is exactly what I saw volunteering at the outreach in America.
As we walked through the hallway into the room where our group will be packing meat, I was wondering if there are poor people in Williamsburg and America by extension who truly need this stuff, I didn’t wonder for too long.
“People often think there are no poor people here. In Williamsburg, there’s the very rich and there’s the very poor. Those who clean up after you leave, those who serve you at the malls and so on are the poor people who need the stuff…feeding the hungry is one of the most important thing to do…” Karen Joyner, CEO Peninsula Foodbank would admit during the panel discussion.
I and members of my team spent our time at the outreach taking several cartons of meat donations out of the cold room, sorting them into category – beef, chicken, turkey etc – and packing them into big coolers so that the people who need them can easily access them during the weekend and the proceeding Monday which coincides with a significant holiday in the United States, commonly known as Independence Day.
“At least nineteen families volunteer at this outreach center,” the executive director of that outreach told us as she took us on a tour of the place after we were done with our tasks.
“You will see that the pantry is set up like a grocery store, people pick what they want in a way that makes them feel loved and respect and not demeaned,” she explained.
For the clothes, “once a month, they can come in and get clothes for their families. They also collect food, coffee makers and nice things to have for families,” she said
In the fresh food room, she explained that people come four days a week to pick the food they really need.
“The food are fresh, very good and healthy. We work with local farmers to try to always have fresh produce,” she further explained.
She then thanked us for volunteering at the center, expressing how much it meant to them.
The volunteering opportunity introduced purpose and perspectives into my vision for my community, country and the African continent but I was not alone in the thought process.
Cassandra Dorasamy a fellow Precinct mate and current research consultant at Amnesty International South Africa said the community service, “made me imagine what was possible back home with strong coordination between national and local government, food producers, and communities. Grove center showed us what loving, dignified, and meaningful assistance can look like.
Not farfetched, Baboloki Semele, a Botswana parliamentarian researcher and clerk African Youths Parliament explains that, “I used to volunteer and stopped, but doing it yesterday rekindled the volunteer in me. I donated shoes, tie, jersey and socks to the center. And i am going to start a center like that in Botswana.”
On her part, our Zimbabuwean counterpart who serves as an anti-money laundry officer at the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, Adeline Masunda said her experience at the outreach center was very emotive.
“It’s not about gaining any public appraisal or recognition from people like most philanthropic works done by people these days. Yesterday, I met with some of the “unsung heroes” of the Williamsburg community who are making a difference in any way they can. To realise that someone has been volunteering with their energy, time and resources for over a decade now, is truly inspiring! How I wish more of our young African leaders who are really the future would be as forthcoming and inspire the community to engage in such social impact projects.”
Njiramanda Mbewe, a sterling legal practitioner from Botwana with over 10years of experience in Law and Leadership, sums it up by admitting that, “It was exhilarating, it gave me a sense of pride knowing my actions would benefit another, innately knowing I’m living up to the ideals of humanity. As for my community, the volunteer work opened my eyes to see how great the endless possibility of meeting people’s needs can be if we worked together. One hand washes the other.”
Community service can take many forms and can be carried out by people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Some common examples of community service activities include environmental clean-up, planting trees, maintaining parks, restoring natural habitats, providing shelters to the homeless, food hungry people, education and mentoring, especially after school hours..
Other forms are health and wellness where people often volunteer at hospitals, clinics, or nursing homes, providing assistance to patients, supporting healthcare professionals, or organizing health education campaigns, disaster relief where in the aftermath of natural disasters or emergencies, community service efforts focus on providing immediate aid, such as shelter, food, and supplies, as well as assisting with long-term recovery and rebuilding, elder care where volunteers may visit senior citizens, assist with daily tasks, or engage in social activities to combat loneliness and improve the well-being of older adults.
Additionally, there’s the community development which are projects aimed at revitalizing neighborhoods, improving infrastructure, or creating recreational spaces.
Community service plays a vital role in American society, fostering civic engagement, social cohesion, and a sense of responsibility towards the welfare of others. It is often viewed as an essential component of character development, leadership skills, and personal growth for individuals involved. Many schools, colleges, and universities encourage or require students to participate in community service to instil values of empathy, compassion, and active citizenship.
To support and recognize community service efforts, various organizations, nonprofits, and government agencies provide resources, grants, and awards to individuals and groups involved in community service. Additionally, national initiatives like the AmeriCorps and Peace Corps offer opportunities for individuals to engage in intensive community service projects and make a significant impact in communities across the country.
Three days after the Grove Outreach Community Service, we volunteered again for three hours at the Habitat for Humanity Restore.
Now, what the non profit does is that it takes donations from individuals who are no longer using stuff and 90% of the items in the Restore shop – ranging from cool furniture, frames, clothes, duvets, jewelries, electronic and travel bags to mention a few are donated items.
Funds raised from sales are then used to purchase plots of land and build houses for the needy. Those who qualify to be given a house will have to work 300hrs of sweat equity. That is, they would volunteer for some hours over a period of time at the Restore shop and the building site in addition to keeping their job, when all these cumulates to 300 hrs of work, they get to be given a home!
The Restore even have a “Car for Homes” drive where people can donate used cars.
The highlight of the volunteering time for me at the Restore was seeing an elderly woman who had breathing issues bringing herself to volunteer at the shop, profound!
“We help mid-level family, we give a hands up, not a hand out,” says the volunteer coordinator whilst taking us around.
In summary, community service in America reflects the spirit of volunteerism and the belief that collective efforts can bring about positive change and improve the lives of individuals and communities in need.
The overall experience makes me reflect on one of the catchphrase from our Mandela Washinton Fellowship leadership development action plan workbook, “ubuntu,” which is a philosophy derived from the Nguni Bantu word embodied in the proverb: “Ubuntu ngumtu ngabanye abantu,” meaning, “a person is a person through other people,” a philosophy that reinforces a worldview that we owe our selfhood to others. This concept is more attractive by the addition of decorative features such as the enhanced “Aikin Lada” ideal!
Mohammed is a 2023 Mandela Washington Fellow at the Presidential Precinct, Charlottesville VA, he writes via mdlawal001@gmail.com
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