Meet Rahul, a volunteer and founder of Activate Mental Health, sharing their journey as part of our ‘Share Your Story’ series.
My Inspiration
“There’s immense joy and satisfaction derived from helping others experience joy and happiness. Volunteering is one of the best ways to boost your self-esteem, make friends, and have fun. It’s also an expression of creativity.”
My Volunteering Experience
“I have volunteered for over 10 years, with an initial exposure to volunteering in 2009 where I held a donation can for Boardies Day in 2009 to raise funds for Surf Life Saving WA. I commenced ongoing volunteering in 2013 for Befriend Inc, a WA-based not-for-profit aiming to make people less socially isolated. I then volunteered for 5 years with TEDxPerth as their finance manager.”
Founding Activate Mental Health
“In 2016, I founded a group called Activate Mental Health, which was meant to be a way for me to make new friends and have some fun. It’s a group where volunteers run fun social activities such as walks, board game nights, and book clubs to make people feel less socially isolated. It’s grown to become Perth’s biggest mental well-being support group and is on the verge of becoming a registered charity.”
Recognition and Impact
“My work with Activate Mental Health was recognised in 2023 by Volunteering WA, where I was named the 2023 WA Volunteer of the Year! Activate Mental Health has changed my life in ways that I couldn’t foresee in 2016. I never knew I would build my own volunteering involving organisation with no formal knowledge of volunteer management.”
Encouragement to Future Volunteers
“If you are looking for personal and professional growth, experiencing new things, and want to bring others joy, consider volunteering. Such an array of roles is available throughout the community, which can suit your personal tastes and availability to volunteer. Volunteering brings immense satisfaction and makes your local community and the world a better place.”
Photo Descriptions
- Boardies Day 2009: My first experience of volunteering. (poor quality)
- Activate Mental Health Party: A party with regular members of Activate Mental Health.
- WA Volunteer of the Year 2023: My photo after being named WA Volunteer of the Year in 2023.
