Volunteer of the month

Photo by Eddy Pearce

Valued Volunteer in the Spotlight

Janis Lane spoke to Raja Jarrah after he was named The Bank of Dreams’ & Nightmares’ latest Volunteer of the Month

Raja Jarrah sits in the indoor courtyard of the Bridport Literary and Scientific Institute, straight off the back of mentoring a small group of primary school children in a three-hour workshop session. That will come as no surprise to those who know him, and everyone knows everyone in Bridport: Raja is a community-minded man and is extraordinarily generous with his time. He’s lived in Bridport for more than 10 years. Prior to that he spent time working on forest conservation in Zanzibar, followed by a brief pit stop near family in West Sussex on his return to England, before settling in the west Dorset town. 

Today he’s here to talk about reaching the lofty heights of being named The Bank of Dreams & Nightmares’ Volunteer of the Month. Raja first heard about BODAN from a friend, who mentioned it in passing.

“As soon I heard about it, I thought, this is for me,” Raja explains. “I had been developing skills as an amateur storyteller, which was interrupted by COVID, and I missed the storytelling community. The Bank offered a way of getting back into something I loved doing.”

Raja was previously a volunteer at a local primary school, a role also affected by COVID, and the volunteer mentoring opportunities at the Bank provided the perfect opportunity to combine those interests in education and storytelling.

“It seemed like the best sweet in the Quality Street tin,” he smiles.

BODAN’s primary school storymaking workshops are uniquely fun, in which children ages 7-11 become published authors in one morning by collaboratively writing a story up to a cliffhanger point, before finishing it individually. Raja has been a small-group mentor on numerous occasions and keeps coming back for more!

“What I love about them is it brings together, in one space, the three things that make a good story: the teller, the story, and the audience. For a couple of hours, you get all three things working side by side.”

Raja talks about his journey as a storyteller which enabling him to think of a story as an entity and the storyteller as the vehicle for the story, and he sees clear parallels with storymaking at BODAN.

“Essentially I become the vehicle for the children’s story,” he explains. 

 Raja has also mentored young teens on BODAN’s longer secondary school projects, a very different experience.

“They still have vivid imaginations but are much more self-conscious and more guarded in how they let their imaginations flow. It’s a hugely satisfying experience for me, and I hope for them.”

Raja is aware of the delicate balance needed with fragile teens but finds the process of building trust between himself and the children extremely rewarding.

“Many times, I’ve been cheerfully greeted by a teenager I have mentored. It’s so thrilling to be recognised as someone who was part of their journey.”

Raja also emphasises the positives of such a varied and diverse group of volunteers BODAN has on its roster. BODAN provides an informal Volunteer Induction session for all new recruits, and Raja remembers his induction as a real eye-opener.

 “Induction was very satisfying because when I sat round that table it was alongside a kaleidoscope of people who were all very different. There was no formula to comply with in terms of experience. Everyone was an odd one out – seemingly the antithesis of what’s required in the school system.

 Raja has committed a large chunk of his time to volunteering at the Bank, and luckily for us, looks set to continue to do the same. So, what would he say to others who are considering a volunteer role at the charity?

 “Primarily this is about what the children get out of it, but you also need to consider what you get out of it, which is what provides the motivation. I absolutely believe that volunteers to get that enrichment; I’d always gladly sacrifice other jobs and commitments to work with children on their creative writing. “

With that in mind, I ask Raja to sum up volunteering at BODAN in 3-words:

“Thrilling, eye-opening, satisfying.”

All of the above, and more. Thanks, Raja.

Janis Lane is Creative Learning Manager at The Bank of Dreams & Nightmares

If you’re interested in finding out more about mentoring with The Bank of Dreams & Nightmares, please contact our volunteer co-ordinator Alex Green at alex@thebankofdreamsandnightmares.org