Article written by our school placement intern, Nina. Thank you for your great work.
In this MCAN member rganisation spotlight, we take a look at the work of the Transform Project, a local initiative in Midlothian that supports people who want to get involved in their community. Transform specifically works to reach young people who might require extra support when seeking out volunteer opportunities and offers them the guidance they need to be successful. Volunteering takes place for two hours each week at a garden in Dalkeith, and the young people who attend are able to connect with older adults who can share their expertise and knowledge. In addition to helping make community engagement more accessible and less daunting, a huge part of what Transform sets out to do is grow its participants’ relationship with understanding and caring for the environment.
Transform has hosted some successful events, including inviting students from the local high schools and colleges to participate in gardening, and a Mad Hatter themed tea party that helped young people build skills in event planning and hosting. The organisation also took part in a craft competition that encouraged people to participate in discussions about what climate change means to them.
I spoke with a volunteer that works with the Transform Project, who told me about the impact that the organisation has on the people it reaches. She said that both the gardening aspect as well as the socialisation are extremely important to people. Getting outside and spending time with nature has positive effects on one’s mental health, which can truly make a difference for a young person who is going through a difficult time. Additionally, working as part of a team toward a common goal of tending to the garden and learning about the world around them helps to combat isolation. Building practical skills and knowledge also allows volunteers to transfer what they learn to future jobs or roles. The volunteer I spoke to mentioned that her time with Transform has helped provide her with a foundation to start a career in conservation.
She hopes that Transform can continue reaching more people because of how impactful it has been in her own life. All teenagers and adolescents can benefit from projects like this one because of how they can be encouraged to be a part of something meaningful for their local community and experience a supportive environment to learn new things in.
