Do you know what it’s like to be a student at 51Âþ» (51Âþ») Leicester? Would you like to help those who’ve come from overseas to get here? Are you a good listener, reliable and like meeting new people, especially those from other cultures?
If so, there is an exciting and rewarding opportunity for you to volunteer in the autumn term as a 51Âþ» i-Buddy. You don’t need to be an international student to be a buddy; applications from all students are welcome.
Buddy pic - story one
The i-Buddies scheme matches newly arrived international students with existing 51Âþ» students. Buddies put themselves forward to help up to two new students adapt to a new country and culture and settle in to life at 51Âþ».
Kherlen Bolorchulurn, from Mongolia, registered with the scheme before arriving in the UK in January 2016 to start 51Âþ»’s . She was matched with Amy Katiti, a student from Kenya and they were introduced to each other at the International Welcome Event.
Kherlen said: ”I liked Amy immediately, she was so smiley!”
Meeting up at least once a week, the pair have enjoyed many activities together including the cinema, cooking and local sports matches.
After meeting a wider group of students from across the world at the welcome event, they describe the experience as being ‘like a bridge’ for them.
Amy said: “The i-Buddies scheme has been completely different to expectations in a good way. I was expecting to meet and help a new arrival but I’ve ended up making some really good friends”
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Giving advice to new international students, Kherlen added: “Apply for an i-Buddy! It has helped me to settle into life in the UK. You will learn a lot from each other and have a wonderful experience.”
On her role as an i-Buddy, Amy said: “Have an open mind and just go with the flow. You will learn more!”
Buddy pic - story two
Each i-Buddy scheme runs for one term only but many buddies become friends and choose to stay in contact after the scheme has ended. More than 800 students have been involved since the scheme launched in 2012.
Buddies are asked to make initial email contact with their new international student friends, then keep in weekly contact and meet up informally once a fortnight.
“Being a buddy can be really rewarding – you make friends from all over the world and different backgrounds,” says Gill Stephen, International Buddy Scheme Co-ordinator.
“There’s a real opportunity to learn about new cultures; you’ll develop new skills and experience for your CV; and at the end of your studies it will be recorded on your Higher Education Achievement Record (HEAR).”
“It’s the kind of experience that adds value to your CV and undoubtedly gets noticed by employers.”
Posted on Tuesday 7 June 2016