Our volunteers are a diverse bunch. They come to us from the four corners of the globe, different ethnicities, ages, genders, religions, but the one thing they all share is a desire to help. They are the beating heart of Serve the City. They are dedicated individuals, role models to young people and future leaders. But who are they really? In our volunteer spotlight we introduce you to one of our volunteers and find out some unusual and interesting facts about them.
Let me introduce you to Fabiana.
Where were you born?
I was born in Exeter, United Kingdom, to a British mother and a Venezuelan/Italian father.
What language(s) do you speak?
English is my native language, but I also speak French, Spanish and a little Italian!
What does STCP mean to you?
To me, STCP is about connection. I have met so many wonderful, interesting people – both volunteers and beneficiaries, and have learnt so much from each of them. Having the opportunity to exchange with people from around the world has been so enriching, and being able to help them, even in small ways, has been very fulfilling.
When you’re not volunteering, how do you spend your time?
I love spending time with my friends, many of whom I have met through STCP, visiting museums, reading, eating good vegetarian food and dancing salsa and bachata.
What is your favorite hobby?
It depends on my mood – if I am feeling energized and active, I like to spend time dancing or working out, and if I need time to relax, I like wandering around the city until I find a park or café to sit in and read a good book.
What is your favorite meal?
It’s too difficult to choose! I love trying food from all over the world, but I have a soft spot for Italian cuisine since this is what my dad cooks best. His zuppa di lenticchie is so wholesome and comforting, and his mozzarella fritta is one of my childhood favourites.
With which person living or deceased would you like to eat that meal?
It’s probably cheating since it’s a lot of people, but I would love to have dinner with everyone in my family, to bring them all together. My family members are scattered all over the world, which means I don’t get to see them often, so I would love to see them all for a lovely (though crazy and loud) meal!
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Doing work that actually makes a difference, being surrounded by the people I love and having space for things that feed my soul: good food, books, art, time in nature.
Which living person do you most admire?
I would say my mum, who is kind, strong, and loving. She is the best person in my life, and I feel very lucky to know her and be her daughter.
Which talent would you most like to have?
I would love to be able to speak more languages and to speak them with confidence. Something I struggle with is being nervous to try out new languages for fear of making mistakes, so having an extra confidence boost would be perfect!
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I think my greatest achievements are the relationships I have built with the people in my life. I make a real effort to surround myself with wonderful people who can help me when I need support, and I can support them too.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
Maybe an old tree – something that grows slowly, weathers a lot and ends up being shelter for others.