My Red Cross Volunteer Story: Daphne Osei
By Tonia Callender
After earning her college degree, Daphne Osei decided to take some
time off from her studies to make a positive difference in her community. Over
fifteen months ago, she visited her local Red Cross in Montgomery County,
Maryland to see how she could help. The local Youth Team needed some
assistance, and Daphne stepped in as an Adult Advisor for the group.
As an adult advisor,
Daphne works with about a dozen high school students who plan and implement a
variety of service projects in Montgomery County. This past February, the group
even sent valentine messages to local veterans. Daphne finds that as a young
college graduate she can better relate to the teens and more easily connect
with them. Daphne acts as a mentor, giving team members advice and
information that they can pass on to their friends. She believes that the
key to her youth team’s success has been allowing the teens to have control. “We
let them set their own goals and help them to achieve them,” she said.
In addition to advising
the Youth Team, Daphne works as a trainer, teaching about fire
prevention. She also helps to promote the Red Cross by volunteering at
information tables. Daphne enjoys meeting with people in the community and
providing them with advice and assistance because, she says, “The people we
meet give us wonderful feedback and let us know how much they appreciate our
help.”
For Daphne, volunteering
with the Red Cross has been both an educational and very enjoyable experience.
Working with others has allowed Daphne to further develop her own teaching and
training styles. She has also become very knowledgeable about fire safety
and how to survive disasters. Daphne finds that Red Cross volunteers are
easy to connect with. “We work together so well, even if we have never met
before,” she said.
Daphne loves to promote
the Red Cross. She always reaches out to others in her community and
encourages them to volunteer with the organization. For her, one of the
more rewarding aspects of working with the Red Cross is that you can learn
something new and then share the knowledge you have acquired with others.
Knowing that she is helping people learn how to survive a disaster or other emergency
gives Daphne a great sense of satisfaction and pride.

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