International Volunteer Day, commonly known as IVD, is celebrated on the 5th of December every year. It’s a day to recognise the fantastic contributions and efforts volunteers make to our communities around the globe and to say thank you.

To celebrate International Volunteers Day, we asked Aris and Chew, two of our amazing volunteers, what it is like to volunteer with St John.

Meet Aris, a Cadet Leader from St John Cyprus. Aris first got involved with St John at the age of 12. His school was offering first aid courses, and he decided to enrol because he wanted to help people and learn valuable life skills.

Did you have any previous volunteer experience before joining St John Cyprus?
Before joining St John Cyprus, I did not have any volunteer experience. However, I was involved in first aid through lifeguarding courses, and that is where I earned my lifeguard certification.

What does your current volunteer role as Cadet Leader involve?
As a cadet leader, I am responsible for coordinating the cadets at various school events and marathon runs. It is also my duty to take initiative when preparing first aid kits and the first aid stations at the events. My role also involves me assisting my instructor and ranking officer, Mr Georgios Kokkinos, in teaching the cadets how to properly save a life when necessary.

Can you describe what a typical day of volunteering at St John Cyprus is like?
A typical day of volunteering at St John Cyprus usually involves wearing my St John Brigade uniform and arriving at the event's site around 30 minutes before the event starts, where I will meet the event coordinators and St John Cyprus officials. I will then check if the cadets have the correct St John Brigade uniform on and slowly help brief them all on what they are expected to do.

As a cadet leader, I am responsible for coordinating the cadets at various school events and marathon runs. It is also my duty to take initiative when preparing first aid kits and the first aid stations at the events.

Aris, Cadet Leader

What has been your best memory or experience volunteering with St John?
My best experience of volunteering is seeing the younger children take the initiative to learn how to save lives. One of my greatest memories is having the opportunity to teach a young child how to perform CPR and then finding out that that child went on to join the St John Brigade at my school.

Finally, when you’re not busy working or volunteering, how do you like to spend your free time? 
When I am not working or volunteering, I am usually studying for my A-levels and listening to music. I like cooking, playing sports, and the occasional video game. I also like watching films, reading, and exercising, which are big parts of my life. I enjoy hanging out with my friends and enjoying nice Mediterranean food and smoothies.

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Chew Hoong Ling, the National Staff Officer for Training at St John Malaysia, joined St John at the age of 13 and was first attracted to volunteering at St John during the recruitment drive at her school.

Did you have any previous volunteer experience before joining St John? 
Yes, I had previous experience before joining St John, as I am an active volunteer with several other organisations.

What does your current volunteer role involve? 
I am currently the National Staff Officer for Training. Part of my role is to ensure the Basic First Aid examination forms are in accordance with the Class Regulations and Syllabuses. I am also involved in the free CPR+AED course for the public, and as a Corporate Training Manager, I manage the social enterprise for St John Ambulance of Malaysia.

For every paid class that takes place, we hold a free CPR+AED class for the community. This model ensures sustainability for our community first aid training as well as the continuation of our paid classes. As an officer, I also participate in public first aid standby and ambulance duty.

Can you describe what a typical day of volunteering at St John is like? 
When I am training, my typical day involves ensuring the hall or venue is well-prepared with enough working equipment and handouts. During the class, I conduct training using various techniques, including Accelerated Learning Techniques and NLP. After each class, we ensure that all equipment is cleaned, stored away correctly, and ready for use for the next class. 

When I'm on public duty, I ensure the ambulance and first aid kits are well-stocked and prepared, and that all teams are well-informed and ready to reach the venue for public duty. After public duty, I write reports on the cases that took place on the day and return all equipment and ambulances in good condition.

What has been your best memory or experience volunteering with St John? 
I particularly like training, as this has a positive impact on society as I am giving local people the knowledge to save a life. My team and I have worked extremely hard to standardise the materials needed for workbooks and handouts. When participants give feedback that our class was the best they have ever attended, that gives affirmation and joy that we are on the right track.

Finally, when you’re not busy working or volunteering, how do you like to spend your free time? 
I usually catch up with sleep and can spend hours in bed reading a book. Sometimes I will take a drive in my campervan to the seaside or riverside to enjoy nature overnight.

When participants give feedback that our class was the best they have ever attended, that gives affirmation and joy that we are on the right track.

Chew Hoong Ling

We celebrate International Volunteers Day today, and we want to take this opportunity to thank each and every St John volunteer for their hard work.

Read more about St John's services and programmes here.

5 December 2023