Five minutes with…Selamawit
Date Published: 01 Jun 2026
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This Volunteers’ Week we’re celebrating just some of the ways volunteers support our work.
Community volunteers are people who use our services but also choose to help others by volunteering their time in the service too.
They also bring with them really valuable insights into ways we can develop and improve the work we do.
Here, Selamawit, one of our community volunteers, tells us more…
Can you please tell us a little about yourself?
I’m Selamawit, from Eritrea. I’m 31 years old and I enjoy watching adventure, comedy and romantic suspense movies. People do not know my life story.
How did you become a community volunteer?
I wanted to help people, it makes me feel good. I used cornerstone when I needed help, so when I got stable I started volunteering to give back.
What made you decide to volunteer in this way?
People helped me so I wanted to help people in return.
I like to help people and this felt like a good way to do it. If I help people it makes me happy.
Where do you volunteer?
I volunteer at Cornerstone but on Fridays I also volunteer at Growing Together.
What do you do to provide support?
I give people tea and coffee. Sometimes I wash plates and clean up after people. I do everything that is needed. Everything that is within my abilities I want to do to help!
How does volunteering make you feel and why?
It makes me very happy because in doing it I am making other people happy.
I know the feeling of needing to use the service so it makes me feel good to give back.
What do you look forward to most about your volunteering sessions?
I look forward to everything at Cornerstone.
If I am making other people happy that is the best.
What skills are you most proud of that you use to help others when volunteering?
I am a hard worker. I am also a very good listener so I help people through this.
What would you say to others who are thinking about volunteering?
I would recommend volunteering at Cornerstone. If we are coming here for help then it is nice to give back and offer help to the others who need it. I am very happy here.
To find out more about volunteering opportunities, click here to visit our volunteering website page: www.caritassalford.org.uk/volunteer