My experience with SHoKE at ARU and key learnings

Hello Readers,

Oscar Wilde once said “The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” This inspired me to volunteer with local charities and councils to help them solve social issues and to contribute to the society.

At Anglia Ruskin University, there is a platform enabling students to apply problem-solving techniques and make a personal social impact by collaborating with partner organisations and charities.

SHoKE, also known as Student at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange has given me an opportunity to not only contribute to the society but also to develop new skills. This all began when I was working at the ARU Students' Union and I noticed a unique program called Impact:24 challenge. We get virtual badges from the SHoKE team in association with Cambridge City council as a recognition.

I found it interesting and immediately applied for it as a volunteer. Impact:24 is a 24 hour challenge to identify potential solutions to partners societal challenges. I, first started as an Impact:24 Volunteer and worked for Stop the Hunger Charity. Our challenge is to provide ideas to get more funds for the charity. In the process of working with the charity, I got an idea to create a logo and a group name for our team. After our presentation, the charity was impressed and have taken our group logo as a part of their initiative. I was so happy to contribute and bring a change for hungry people by sharing my insights and ideas.

In the May cohort, I applied for the Impact:24 Team Leader Position. This time we got an opportunity to work for the HomeStart Essex charity who help parents with childcare support and to build confidence and strengthen their relationships with their children. Our challenge was to help them to hire more volunteers and marketing strategies for the charity. My team was absolutely amazing and together we build a strategy web to showcase our ideas for recruitment and marketing. The team was impressed and we got a valuable feedback from the charity.

In June, I took part in the Student Consult challenge. It is a one-month semi-professional consultancy projects delivered by teams of postgraduates and researchers, trained and supported by professional staff at ARU. For this challenge, we worked with Essex City Council to make obesogenic environment socially unacceptable. Our team has presented a logic tree which was very much liked by the Essex City Council.

For all the programmes, there were many teams which participated. Overall, working with SHoKE was a different experience altogether. I would suggest all the ARU Students to take part in such extra-curricular activities which could not only help them for their CV and skills but also can contribute to the betterment of the society.

My 5 Key Learnings from SHoKE:

1. Collaboration and teamwork: Working with partner organisations and charities in a collaborative setting teaches the importance of teamwork. It provides an opportunity to understand diverse perspectives, effectively communicate ideas, and work towards a common goal.
2. Problem-solving skills: SHoKE events involve tackling real societal challenges, which allows participants to enhance their problem-solving skills. They learn to analyse problems, think critically, and generate innovative solutions.
3. Leadership development: Taking on roles like team leader in SHoKE events offers an excellent chance for leadership development. It helps individuals strengthen their leadership abilities, such as decision-making, delegation, and coordination, in a practical and challenging environment.
4. Communication and presentation skills: Engaging with partner organisations and presenting ideas and solutions requires effective communication skills. Students can learn to articulate their thoughts clearly, convey their ideas persuasively, and engage with diverse stakeholders.
5. Social impact and empathy: Being part of initiatives aimed at solving societal issues through SHoKE events can foster a sense of empathy and social responsibility. It allows individuals to understand the needs and challenges of others, develop a greater awareness of social issues, and contribute meaningfully to creating positive change.