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Our volunteers > Jennifer Ehidiamen

Jennifer Ehidiamen was one of nine Nigerians who joined nine British youths in a reciprocal exchange between Birmingham, England and Jos, Nigeria, under the Global Xchange programme.

Whereabouts in Nigeria were you based?

On the Global Xchange 2 exchange (GX2 Birmingham-Jos), we (9 Nigerians and 9 British Volunteers) spent three months in Birmingham and three months in Jos, which is located in Plateau State, the Northern part of Nigeria known as the home of Peace and Tourism in Nigeria. We worked in different local organizations and lived in Host Homes in counterpart pairs.

What did your partner organization do?

The Global Xchange is a partnership between three organizations that are equally committed to the idea that International Volunteer Exchanges can help develop active global citizens, who are committed to working for positive change and can positively impact local communities in Nigeria and in the UK. In Nigeria, partner organizations include VSO Nigeria, British Council and Live Vanguard. They took care of the logistics in planning the overseas phase of the exchange and helped in ensuring a smooth running of activities in the Nigeria Phase of the Exchange.

What was your initial impression when you arrived Nigeria?

After spending three months in Birmingham where everything was so organized, I had my share of culture shock upon returning to Nigeria. We were given an euphoric welcome by the country management team and once again the warm and accommodating nature of Nigeria was rekindled in me.

Has that impression changed a lot?

Nigeria is still the friendly, warm, religious and accommodating place I have always known it to be. It is not yet as organized as U.K, where electricity is stable and transport system is fantastic but of course there is hope for Nigeria.

What is your past job/experience? Had you volunteered previously?

I did a Youth Internship programme in Journalist Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria, and also have a couple of after high school work experience. While on the Global Xchange, I had a valuable experience working in two different organizations. While in Birmingham, I worked in Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), in Jos, I worked in Plateau Radio and Television Corporation (PRTV).

What was your role?

In JAAIDS, as a youth intern, I was expected to initiate two high-impact-at-low-cost youth focused HIV awareness programme as my contributions to the emergence of HIV free youth population. I also got to learn other administrative skills while working in the office.

In THT, along with my work placement counterpart, we researched on HIV/AIDS statistics, comparing the situation in Nigeria to U.K. We were also opportune to do some school presentations, creating awareness on World AIDS day in schools and youth groups and actively participated in World AIDS day celebration in Birmingham.

In PRTV Jos, we co-anchored a TV programme called “Rural Watch” where we visited villages around Jos to watch how rural people are living and challenges, with the hope that people will get to know more about the people there and perhaps come to their aid.

Who were the beneficiaries of your work out there?

Everyone benefited from our work. From the organizations that served as our volunteer placement, to the Youths in Schools and Youth groups and people in the community, to the host homes where we lived.

What was the highlight of your placement?

A very challenging placement that required pro-activeness and creativity while at the same time teaching new things and allowing you the chance to challenge your social norms.

Where you anxious about anything before arrival?

No.

What do you think a placement in Nigeria offers that is unique?

A placement in Nigeria offers you a unique opportunity to create your own ideal work structure. It also provides you opportunity to work actively in the community. There is a lot to be done on the field and Nigeria is warm and friendly country with no hold barred. Opportunities are limitless and the people are very receptive.

Is there anything in particular that you missed from home?

During the U.K phase, I missed eating Nigerian food. I didn’t miss the weather much because I loved U.K’s cold weather (and the snow).

Is there anything that you didn't miss?

I didn’t miss the poor electricity called NEPA.

How do you think that you were contributing to the communities in which you are working?

On Global Xchange, we had what is called CADs (Community Activity Days), this gave us all nineteen volunteers the opportunity to work together on some selected projects as our contributions to the community. For instance while in U.K, we had a HIV awareness street campaign on World AIDS day where we gave out red ribbon and also gave small talks about HIV. We organized a debt relief talk where we talked about Nigeria debt relief with invited experts. We also had a car wash fundraising event where we raised 600 pounds for Asian Earthquake Victims.

In Jos, Nigeria, we had a loud HIV campaign rally, a road safety seminar, a road safety rally, a school-to-school presentation aimed to promote youth volunteering, a skill acquisition session in Female Jos prison and a HIV drama event with male Jos Prison, and also painted an orphanage dormitory on Zaria road, close to Jos. To mention but a few. These were all channeled to reach out to the local community. We also had social events which brought the people in the community and the Global Xchange team together.

What benefit do you feel you were getting from volunteering in Nigeria?

Volunteering in Nigeria exposed me to learning new things about the country. It helped me appreciate the multi-cultural diversity of Nigeria. And most importantly, it taught me a lot about how exploring the vast human resources in the country through volunteerism can contribute to the Nation’s growth and development.

Describe life outside work in Nigeria?

Life outside work in Nigeria gives room for social interaction. It comes with opportunity to meet friends, attend one celebrating ceremony or the other. There are a lot of various healthy activities that can be done really.

Why do you feel it is important for young people to be involved in Global Exchange?

Wow! Global Xchange is a very important program I will love to recommend to all active young people in Nigeria, U.K and all over the world! The programme is a win-win learning process that gives practical opportunity to young people to discover who they are and what they want to do in life. You cannot imagine how much you will gain in return just by giving/committing six months of your time to the programme. It exposes you to other cultures and gives you the understanding that diversity is something to be appreciated! It certainly taught me to respect other people’s culture and never to be judgmental. The benefits that comes with being involved in Global Xchange comes in variety of packages, it builds your leadership skills, sharpens your perspective on global issues, teaches you new skills and improves your ability to communicate and interact with others with confidence, gain new skills and improve on old ones, make new friends and most importantly become an active global citizen committed to working for a positive change and building a fairer world by acting local and thinking global!

"Volunteers are not paid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless"