Hope For The Vulnerable

03/22/21 • 35 min

Have you ever had a moment where you've felt vulnerable? A moment where you've felt uncomfortable and with what feels like a minimal amount of control over a situation?
If you have, then you might have a small inkling about what the children of the small town of Senya-Beraku on the coast of Ghana, two hours from Accra feel. However, these children have grown up with this vulnerability staring them in the face every day pretty much from the moment they open their eyes into this world. Whether they are an orphan, or whether they've just been left in a room by the mother, to fend for themselves... just like the child our guest in this episode talks about.
Alejandro Magalhaes is airline crew in the Middle East, and due to the current situation for travel (or lack of), he was able to take time out from his work to venture into the world of volunteering with Becky's Foundation.
Hear his story on how he managed to find his way to Ghana, the planning he made for his journey, and then the eye-opening experiences that were thrust upon him when he arrived. Emotions can get the better of anyone, and with Alejandro it was no different, as he was able to find connections with many of the children in the foundation... from a football wizz, to fleet-footed dancers, to a little girl called Mary 'cheeky'.
Alejandro also gives his thoughts on the trials and tribulations of volunteer work, and offers a warning to those of you who might be thinking of doing this kind of thing.
Is volunteer work something for you? Find out more from Alejandro in this interesting chat.

Previous Episode

A Hug In A Mug (Part 2)

We've been living in a strange and overall depressing kind of world for a while now... Covid has ripped lives apart, physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight.
Many of us have come to terms with the restrictions, and living our lives the best way we can, and this includes the many thousands upon thousands of airline crew who were made redundant throughout this whole time. Yes, they may have lost their jobs, just like many others, but one such crew saw an opportunity, a possibility to bring a beacon of light in dark times.
Captain Emma Henderson MBE is our guest for part 2 of an amazing and uplifting chat that I believe will be one that you will all enjoy listening to, and especially relate to. Emma is the Founder/CEO of 'Project Wingman', a not-for-profit organisation run 100% by volunteers, mainly across the UK.
'Project Wingman' is a collective of ex-airline crew volunteers, who may have been made redundant or furloughed, and are using there time to give back to those doing their utmost during these times - those being the workers of the NHS.
Coined by Emma herself, she likes to refer to what these volunteers do as 'a hug in a mug', basically offering the simple thing of a tea or a coffee in a hospital based 'lounge setup', but arguably more importantly an ear... to listen, to show care, to show empathy... just giving someone the time, and letting them know that what they are doing for us is truly being appreciated on a personal level.
What Emma has started is truly remarkable, and something that many in the NHS are so very thankful for right now.
Throughout the chat, you can really feel how passionate and devoted Emma is to 'Project Wingman'. It is truly inspirational to hear what Emma has done since this pandemic started, and it was a real pleasure being able to chat with her, and hear first hand about all everything her and her remarkable team are doing.
We hope you enjoy.

Next Episode

Service Above Self

"Many of you have probably heard of the organisation we chat about today. They are most known for their amazing work with the eradication of Polio around the world, but also for fighting disease, promoting peace, and also disaster relief.
Rotary International are a worldwide organisation doing many amazing things around the world, with the help of over one million members... one of whom we are speaking with today.
Ana Mihai Schmidt is cabin crew with Emirates, but has been involved with Rotary for a number of years now starting back in her home country, Romania.
After moving to Dubai, she became involved again with the organisation joining up with events visiting a disable children's home, and delivering Iftar boxes to the labour workers during Ramadan.
She also embarked on a journey of self-discovery and growth by being the leader for her own project raising money at the Flea Markets.
Ana, from experience, can really say that Rotary gives you the opportunity to grow, and to become a better person.
Join us for a great chat, and maybe it'll give you the encouragement to embark on a similar kind of journey too."