A little more conversation baby! #PeopleHelpingPeople

I am so fortunate. I have problems, but as I sit here, sipping a coffee on my laptop I am aware of how privileged my position is. This weekend I had the chance to mingle with people who are not in the position I am, and I think it’s something everyone needs to experience, even just once.

A bit of a back story… For the past four months, myself and two of my university friends have been working alongside Caring Scotland, a wonderful humanitarian aid group who are based in Glasgow and helping them spread the message of the work they do. Initially thought this would be just a project which would help me gain credits towards my degree, but it’s been so much more than that. The Caring Scotland team are a group of inspiring, selfless individuals who genuinely have so much care for the world around them, and in four short months have opened my eyes to how much can be done if you’re committed to the cause.

 Caring Scotland’s work before now has been solely overseas, working to help some of the planet's most venerable people living in refugee camps in Lebanon, Dunkirk and Calais. The work they have done and continue to do for refugees is outstanding, but this winter they wanted to bring their work closer to home. I knew immediately this was something I wanted to be involved in.

So me and the girls (the other two members of our university PR team) got set to working creating what we could to get the word out about what Caring Scotland was planning, we created invitations, videos, gathered clothes, and visited shelters to get the word out, and last Sunday the day arrived.

We met the Caring Scotland team early on Sunday and saw the product of what we all had worked tirelessly on, there was so much beautiful food (cooked by the wonderful Al Ahl Bait chefs!)  and warm clothing ready to be given to anyone who may benefit and so many friendly faces there to welcome them through the door.

And I must say it was one of the most overwhelming evenings I’ve ever had. We spent the evening eating, drinking, laughing and almost crying with fellow Glaswegians, just like us, but in positions, I’m not sure I’d be tough enough to cope with or will ever fully be able to comprehend. We sang songs, shared stories and discussed what we love – or who we love in some cases and it was just so crazy to hear some of the stories I had the pleasure to be told.

What hit me so hard was how much fun our guests (and we) had. One older man, told us how it was the greatest hospitality he’d ever experienced and as much I was overjoyed that someone enjoyed the group’s hard work, it hurt a bit because I knew this couldn’t be the norm if it meant to much to him.  I also found it so hard hearing that quite a few of the amazing people I met were the same age, or only a year older than I am. I couldn’t comprehend how they could be so strong, but so young and I found it so hard saying goodbye on Sunday evening knowing I was going home to a warm bed when not all of the people I’d spent the evening with knew where they’d be laying their head.

We asked everyone we met on Sunday what the worst thing about being homeless was. Although it may seem intrusive, I feel like the only way to fully help and understand how to help is to ask questions instead of assuming, and the answers we received were Sadness, Loneliness and boredom.

The answers made me realise that you don’t need to give change to make a change, and sometimes a conversation and a little time could be just as, if not more valuable than a few silver coins. And it’s something we can all spare.

So maybe next time you walk past someone on the street, maybe just say hello, or ask them about their day, because I think a little conversation could bring a lot of change. 

I need to thank the Caring Scotland team, The Ahl Al Bait Society, my two uni buds and everyone elese who made Sunday possible. It was amazing.

Do more.Be kind. #PeopleHelpingPeople 

Check out Caring Scotland on Facebook and their website.