Jennifer Barsamian: Learn to give back to the community

Nearly 10 years ago, I returned from Mali, West Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer. Some consider this the sort of ultimate or even extreme volunteer position. I would agree there are some aspects that were very “extreme,” but in terms of my work as a volunteer, well, I can easily say that I was a student more than a teacher.

In Mali the concept of “it takes a village” was obvious everywhere I turned.

Women were working together on their housework and raising the children, men worked together as well, building houses or working on the farms. No one was left to do things on their own. They couldn’t survive with a model of living of each family has to take care of themselves.

The thought that I was there, by myself, was just about the craziest thing the Malians could ever imagine. No one could really understand why I was there. Why would this single, white woman leave her home, family and friends to come and live in a village where she knows nobody? Where there was no work? 

These were questions that never occurred to me until I was sitting in my mud hut. Why was I there? What was I trying to prove or do? Did I really think I could “save the world” by being there?   

I had never been in any rush to get married or have kids until I spent time around women who were proud to be mothers and wives.

 Proud to be raising kids and doing housework? Yes, and not only were they proud, but they were some of the strongest, smartest, and resourceful women I’d ever met. Everyone worked together to get their jobs done. People were happy. They laughed, joked, celebrated together, mourned together. No matter how hard things were, they had each other. It’s what made the experience of doing Peace Corps so powerful.

Fast forward 10 years later and I find myself in the “village” of Dedham.

 I’ve felt anything but alone living here. Our village is a lot different, and well, more organized. There are dozens of groups and organizations that residents can join to not feel so isolated and like you’re contributing something to the community. Joining a group that you feel like you would fit in and then doing meaningful volunteer work for that group or organization has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done and continue to do here.

Whether you are stocking shelves at the Dedham Food Pantry, organizing events for Dedham Parent Time, helping run the Craft Fair for Dedham Junior Women’s Club, wrapping gifts for Dedham Square Circle’s Holiday Stroll, running at table at the Tree Lighting for the Rotary Club, making a meal for a family in need or just attending meetings for one of the many other great non-profit groups in our town, you are becoming a part of a village that will enrich your life and make it more meaningful.

Volunteering does not mean adding something else to your “to do” list. It’s not something that should feel like work.

You can find something to do with your family and if you can’t, ask yourself how is it making your families life better or what am I teaching them by doing this?

You don’t have to be in Africa to change lives. In fact, if you can add something in your own community, I have found this volunteer work as rewarding as anything I did in Mali.

Dedham resident Jennifer Barsamian’s blog Dedham Rocks can be found at www.dedhamrocks.blogspot.com. Her photo was taken by Teja Arboleda at The Studio in Dedham.