Charitable student: Obi Williams in Thailand
A University of Portsmouth law and international relations student who volunteered hundreds of hours to charity has been awarded £1,000 to help pursue his dreams.
Obi Williams, 19, joined charity Vinspired as a team leader and rallied other volunteers to help raise the aspirations of Portsmouth children and organise food donations for the city’s elderly and ill. The charity rewarded his efforts with a £1,000 cheque which Obi spent on travelling to Thailand where he carried out more charity work.
Over a six-month period his team collected nearly 700 items of non-perishable food items, including rice and pasta, from churches, schools and community groups in Portsmouth, before donating them to Fareshare. The organisation distributes food to homeless people and others in need.
In a bid to get children interested in reading, Obi’s team went to schools across the city and read out stories they had written before acting them out. They also encouraged children to take part in a creative writing competition run by Vinspired.
The team then also visited Alton Manor Care Home, in Herbert Road, Southsea, and put on a day of entertainment for elderly residents.
Obi said: “The charity got in touch with me direct because years ago I had worked on one of their voluntary campaigns and I just felt it would be a great thing to do.
“When you’re helping people at the time you don’t realise how much of a difference you’re making to their lives. Looking back now it’s overwhelming. I’m so proud to have been a part of Team V. It’s opened my eyes to problems that people face in the city. There’s a lot of struggle.
“Hopefully this programme will show that young people aren’t all that bad.”
Before he took part in the programme, Obi spent time in Kenya working in an orphanage as part of a two-week trip organised by the Sabach Trust, a children’s home in Kenya.
He used his prize money to fund a three-week trip to Thailand this summer during which he again volunteered – this time to help teach in local schools where the pupils were aged six to 16.
The Vinspired youth charity gives young people the chance to make a difference in their communities to raise awareness of poverty, illiteracy and loneliness.
Obi, who lives in Southsea but comes from London, said: “I would urge anyone to sign up to Team V. It’s changed my life. Working with older people was definitely one of the highlights.”
For more information visit vinspired.com/teamv
